Mrs. Linda Asante Agyei, the National Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has called upon media practitioners in the Upper East Region to collaborate with stakeholders to help bring an end to the recurring conflicts in the region.
Mrs. Agyei emphasized the pivotal role of responsible journalism in advancing human development and peace.
She urged media practitioners to embrace the principles of peace journalism and refrain from disseminating information that fuels conflicts, emphasizing that “the days of poor journalism which lured the media into peddling information that only strengthened the fire of conflicts have long given way to the current era of peace journalism.”
She made these remarks at the second edition of the Upper East Regional GJA awards held in Bolgatanga under the theme: “Safeguarding the peace security of the Upper East Region: the role of the media.”
The Vice President of GJA highlighted the significance of the theme in light of recent conflicts that have negatively impacted the region, causing loss of lives and property, as well as hampering development.
She called upon journalists in the region to contribute to building trust among different factions and promoting peace as a sustainable alternative to violence.
She stressed that the responsibility for ending conflicts in the region largely depends on journalists.
Furthermore, Mrs. Agyei announced that the GJA, with support from the government of Ghana and UNESCO, would host the Third African Media Convention in 2024.
This convention aims to bring together approximately 1,000 media practitioners and partners from across Africa and the world.
The GJA intends to leverage this event to showcase the positive image of the media and journalistic work while enhancing media freedom.
Alhaji Yusif Fofana, the Government Spokesperson on Social Services, who represented the Minister of Information, emphasized the critical role of the media in nation-building.
He urged media practitioners to foster trust among feuding factions and work towards bringing peace to conflict areas.
Alhaji Fofana also highlighted the growing threats of terrorism and insurgencies in neighboring countries, emphasizing the importance of journalists, especially those in the region, in safeguarding national peace.
Mr. William Jalulah, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the GJA, raised concerns about the centralized system of communication by the Ghana Police Service, which he deemed detrimental to democratic governance.
He called for a reversal of this decision and appealed to the national leadership of the GJA to advocate more forcefully for this change.
- Reporting by Anthony Adongo Apubeo: Editing by Adewale Adejoke
