The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has called on media professionals to desist from the over politicisation of issues.
He said the development can undermine the media’s role as a key and strategic partner in the rejuvenation of Ghana’s economy following the global pandemic.
Speaking at a consultative dialogue with the media on the theme, “Economic Revitalisation amid COVID-19 pandemic: the Media’s Agenda”, the minister charged journalists to be professional in the dissemination of information and avoid sensationalism.
“The media is important for human development, bringing information on health, education and other sectors to the remotest parts of the country. But as experience has shown, the independence of the media can be fragile and easily compromised,” the Suame MP said.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu added: “To support development, the media need the right environment in terms of freedoms, capacities, and checks and balances. As important providers of information, the media are more likely to promote better commercial and industrial growth and development, especially when producing good-quality reportage and having a broader reach.”
“Media help create awareness and develop consensus on important national and international development issues. It also helps the citizenry to understand the various obstacles in the process of development,” he stressed.
Partners
On his part, a representative of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Ebo Afful, expressed discontent over the practice of the media being left out of policy formulation. He charged the government to see the media as a partner and not a tool for promoting their parochial interest.
He said: “Journalists and the mass media are needed when policies are being formulated so that the media can engage citizens for the citizens to also make inputs. This practice will enable every individual to partake in decision making.”
The forum was aimed at reaffirming the media’s stake in the rejuvenation of Ghana’s economy as well as interrogating the major economic policies and programmes instituted by the government aimed at revitalising the economy of Ghana.
Philip Abutiate
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