The SIC Insurance Plc has blazed a trail never witnessed in the history of election coverage in the country.
At a brief yet significant ceremony yesterday, the foremost insurer offered a mouthwatering GH¢40 million policy to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to cushion frontline journalists covering the December polls against eventualities.
Never has such a gesture been visited on the media in this country during a significant democratic process like an election.
Election, being a cornerstone of the democratic process, as the GJA President Roland Affail Monney noted, must in our view receive adequate coverage by the media and steeped in integrity.
Unfortunately, until now, no corporate entity in the country has ever thought about offering the media such a package to encourage practitioners to do even more in terms of quality coverage during the elections.
Various processes come into play during an election; one of them being the quality of information that is churned out to the citizens.
Journalists can do better covering election coverage when they are assured that in case of injuries they would be covered by a policy of a reputable SIC.
The Odododiodoo Constituency clash of a few days ago is a case in point. Journalists covering the chaos could easily be caught in the crossfire of the engagement.
For us, therefore, as well as other media establishments, the SIC deserves plaudits for the unprecedented gesture which by all standards is a major contribution towards the enhancement of democracy and good governance.
What better corporate acknowledgement than the SIC impetus which would enable journalists to discharge their duties during elections without wondering what awaits them when they suffer physical injury or even death while chasing election news for transmission to the citizenry.
In a country where the abuse of journalists simply because they are performing their constitutional duties of reporting events as they occur is rife, such an insurance cover could not have come at a more opportune moment.
We wish to endorse the call by the SIC that other corporate entities emulate their gesture by supporting journalists in various ways so they can discharge their duties without impediments.
Journalism is fraught with challenges of physical attacks by those who would rather reports about occurrences as they pertain to their occupations or even assignments as politicians are kept under the carpet.
Those who support the flourishing of the media are indirectly helping in the enhancement of good governance and indeed democracy.
The media too must let truth be the watchword of their profession, especially as it covers the polls.
If we want support from corporate Ghana, we must prove our mettle through quality reportage bereft of spins and propaganda. The public deserves such quality to make informed judgement, and the SIC has rendered a respectful support.