A section of journalists at the programme
MEDIA FOUNDATION For West Africa (MFWA), with funding support from the US Embassy, Ghana, has held a day’s training for journalists in Kumasi to equip them with skills needed to promote decent conversations and expressions before, during and after the December 7 general election.
The training forms part of a series being organised across all 16 regions for morning show hosts, producers, presenters of political and current affairs programmes and influencers.
Participants were tasked to use their platforms to promote decent conversations and expressions from now till the elections are over.
Programme Director, MPSD of MPWA, Dr. Kojo Impraim, urged the participants to rise above partisan interests and ensure that they serve public interest and present factual report.
According to him, MFWA has since 2012 monitored 30 radio stations across the country and the findings indicate a troubling prevalence of false information, especially from media hosts and politicians.
He emphasised the critical role of media hosts in regulating content, stressing that they often fail to challenge misleading statements made by their guests.
Chair of the Department of Multimedia Journalism and Communication at the Morgan State University, Benjamin Alexander Davis, underscored the importance of advancing digital journalism across Africa, with a particular focus on Ghana’s pioneering role in internet adoption.
He stated that anti-democratic disinformation campaigns in Africa have surged since 2022, with destabilisation being the main goal.
Press and Media Specialist at the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy Ghana, Joyce Okyere Asiedu, said the US Embassy and USAID has partnered the media, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and others to promote credible elections.
She said her outfit has contributed to election observation by partnering Coalition of Domestic Elections Observers (CODEO) and deploying 200 observers to monitor voter registration and supporting about 1500 observers on Election Day.
“Ghana has been described as an exporter of peace in the sub-region, taking into the account the happenings from our neighbouring countries so let’s maintain the peace; let Ghana be together after December elections,” she added.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi