Josiah
The Electoral Commission (EC) has expressed its willingness to accept public scrutiny and criticism of its activities, particularly as the nation approaches a critical election in 2024. However, the EC emphasized that such scrutiny should be conducted objectively and with honesty to uphold national peace, security, and the preservation of the country’s democracy.
Mrs. Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the EC, made these remarks during her keynote address at the 27th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre. The event’s theme was “Leveraging Media Freedom to Sustain the Democratic and Security Architecture: The Litmus Test of Election 2024.”
Mrs. Mensa emphasized that the stakes for the 2024 Election are high, as the election’s outcome can either promote or jeopardize peace and security. She urged journalists and the media to understand the delicate role they play in safeguarding Ghana’s democracy, peace, and harmony.
She emphasized that the media’s role is crucial and can either have a positive or negative impact on the nation. Mrs. Mensa called for responsible journalism, emphasizing the importance of upholding truth at all times.
She also called out some media outlets for spreading propaganda, falsehoods, and misinformation, which can polarize citizens along political party lines. Mrs. Mensa stressed the importance of the media promoting transparency, truth, and accuracy.
Mrs. Mensa called on the National Media Commission to ensure strict adherence to media ethics and set standards to promote truth and respect, and to penalize those who violate the rules and regulations. She encouraged citizens to demand the truth from the media and urged journalists to engage in fact-checking to avoid disseminating misleading information.
In conclusion, the GJA Awards recognized exceptional reporting and outstanding work in journalism, with Mr. Erasmus Asare Donkor, a Broadcast Journalist with the Multimedia Group, being named the Journalist of the Year.
Source: Omanghana.com
