Stay away from journalists if you lack temperament and capacity to accommodate them-GJA president to politicians and groups
The Ghana Journalists Association has issued a stem warning to politicians to respect journalists in the country ahead of the 2024 general elections. GJA says members are committed and ready to work with politicians before, during and after the elections but would not tolerate politicians with a penchant for unleashing violence on journalists without provocations.
President of Ghana Journalists Association Albert Kwabena Dwumfour gave the warning at the closing ceremony of a two days training for selected journalists from Northern, Savannah and Upper West regions in Tamale.
The training, organized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in collaboration with the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) was on the theme election in the digital age, countering hate speech and misinformation on social media platforms for peaceful elections.
Addressing some selected journalists from Northern, Savannah and Upper West Regions in Tamale, Mr Dwumfour advised politicians, individuals or groups who lack the temperament, the capacity to accommodate journalists to stay away from journalists or journalists will stay away from them.
He reiterated the GJA’s stand to use all legal means at their disposal to defend practitioners who are targeted by politicians, especially during election period.
He acknowledged that, Ghana’s democracy is involved, journalists’ professionalism will be tested to the later after eight successful elections the country conducted. ’Journalists must put on their professionalism attire because any error can cause the country peace, especially practitioners in northern Ghana because of proximity to the troubled Sahel regions’’, GJA president advised.
He called on Journalists to ensure that the country remains peaceful during, before and after this year’s general elections.
On the emerging digital space, Mr Dwumfour reminded journalists that the Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to dominate in all media discussions and journalists and therefore the need for practitioners to pay attention to it and enhance their knowledge.
’’Our core mandate was still to protect and deepen Ghana’s democracy, and the association views ethical journalism as one of the value prerequisites in the practice. GJA has managed to bring together all new media practitioners under the association.
He cautioned journalists to be wary of hate speech in their platforms to avoid incitement and rather use their professionalism to counter hate speech, misinformation and disinformation and also be on the lookout for false information content. ’’Let’s use the power of technology to foster peace’’, Mr Dwumfour appealed.
