After a long wait, Ghana’s general election comes off tomorrow with expectations high about the outcome. The question on many lips is whether the citizenry will pull through or destroy the relative stability she currently has.
With all eyes on the country which has been able to uphold its democracy since 1992 and had eight elections and therefore could boast of such an enviable title, many are calling for the ‘gateway to Africa’ to do all it can to impress the world.
Also, the need for the media to be responsible in their reportage to help the citizens to make informed decisions as well as promote democracy has been the wish of many.
It is refreshing to note that, as part of efforts to ensure this among others, many institutions have been deliberate about giving the media the required skills to get them ready for the event.
The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and its contributions towards a peaceful election ran a one-day Training on election reporting for media practitioners on November 6, this year.
According to the institution, the training organised for journalists from various media houses “was aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge, tools, and skills to provide fair and balanced election coverage that is responsible and comprehensive. “
Also the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy and CASA Africa (a public diplomacy institution dedicated to bringing the African continent and Spain closer through educational, economic, and informative activities) on November 13 and 14 organised an advanced course on disinformation and fact-checking for media personnel.
The course which covered topics such as disinformation tactics, political fact-checking, Electoral disinformation, debunking disinformation and AI disinformation during the election process had participants drawn from all 16 regions of the country.
The United States Embassy in partnership with the GJA has also trained over 100 journalists from the radio, television and print media in a programme under the theme “promoting peaceful journalistic media platforms ahead of the election.”
The training also encouraged information sharing with election related entities to be better informed on the work of the Electoral Commission and related institutions with a view of promoting freedom of expression for a violent free credible roles.
The President for the GJA Albert Dwumfour in an interview had stated that such training programmes were necessary because the Association anticipates a significant amount of disinformation and misinformation circulating until the elections were over.
He also disclosed that a media app to support the media in their fact-checking and verifying information that they come across as they cover the elections had been launched to better equip the media to provide accurate information to help citizens make informed decisions and also combat disinformation as that threatens democracy and peace.
On November 12 and 13, the Alliance for Women in Media in collaboration with UNESCO also trained female journalists from all over the country aimed at equipping female journalists with critical tools for safe and effective reporting.
The Convener, Ms Mercy Catherine Adjabeng said the training was a reflection of the Association’s unwavering commitment to supporting and empowering female journalists to be vanguards of truth and peace to highlight issues that really matter in the interest of the society.
On the sidelines of the training by the KAIPTC, a Liberian journalist, John Kamara Taylor advised media personnel to take such trainings seriously as it empowers them to be better placed to take charge of their platforms and so would see the need not to allow any individual or group to use their spaces to perpetuate violence.
“War is too expensive, and so the media should work hard to maintain the peace the country has,” he advised.
In an interview at Teshie in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Taylor, who is the Acting Managing Editor for Choice TV in Liberia, shared his experience as a journalist whose country had suffered the devastating effects of war. He emphasized that the effects of war do not disappear easily and sometimes affect even generations and so peace should be guarded seriously for the country to make another successful political transition a reality.
He said because when a country was in turmoil, it affected everyone, it behooved on all countries in the sub-region to add their voices to the call to ensure a successful election. He noted that, although the Electoral Commission and political parties and the various candidates may take centre stage in the elections, all must be involved in safeguarding the relative peace of the country.
He said the role of the media could not be over-emphasized during this period for a free and fair election. He therefore highlighted the importance of responsible reporting as key, urging journalists not to allow negative language to be passed through them to the public.
The journalist with over 14 years experience of practice said millions of people from both local and the international community would rely on the local media to be informed on every activity before, during and after the election and so journalists must do what was right and avoid all acts of misinformation and disinformation in the course of the discharge of their duties.
“As a journalist, you must be firm in calling people to order when they are going against your editorial policy. If you see things going wrong, intervene lawfully. Also, ensure you cross-check every piece of information before putting it out because you cannot afford to make a mistake” he cautioned. He said every media house must be intentional about upholding the peace of the country.
He also emphasized the need for every country to support Ghanaians in maintaining the stability it has because anything short of it could have a ripple effect on other countries. “When Liberia and other countries were in distress, Ghanaians helped us and so we must all encourage them to do what is right in appreciation and also to support them for what they have done for the region over the years” he said.
The Acting Managing Editor who is also the Communications Officer for the Liberia Women Empowerment Network said working with women over the years had made him aware of the devastating effects of war on them (women) and therefore encouraged women to actively get involved in the call for a peaceful election. According to him, they (women) are the most affected with their children when there is an outbreak of war.
He said religious and traditional leaders should also do well to use their influence on their people to get them to appreciate that an election is a contest that would have one winner after which all the contestants must rally behind the winner so that the country will be a better place to live in.
Mr. Taylor also appealed to the Electoral Commission to do its possible to ensure a free, fair and transparent election as that was critical to preserve the peace of the country.
The Liberian journalists’ call to the media not to allow their platforms to be used to carry negative news brought to mind an incident that I witnessed over a decade ago.
At a political party rally, I witnessed a constituency executive making an irresponsible statement that could plunge the country into chaos. He said, “If our party does not win, there will be war.” Usually, I avoid reporting such statements, but a colleague became interested and started recording and writing with great seriousness.
When I asked him why he gave the statement so much attention, he replied that it would make headlines for his media house. Naturally, I expressed my surprise, asking if he considered the potential chaos such a statement could cause. He casually responded, “That’s what they want to hear, and you have to give them what they want to be relevant” obviously oblivious to the repercussions of his actions.
The Importance of Responsible Reporting
I explained to my colleague the importance of responsible reporting, especially during election seasons. However, he excused himself to get further details from the speaker. Later, he returned, excited to “blow the story.” I tried to appeal to his conscience, explaining how our families especially our older parents and even including us could be negatively affected by such actions.
He responded, “My mother is not here; she is far away in the village, and so she cannot be affected.” I realized my words were falling on deaf ears. Unfortunately, some journalists still prioritize making headlines over responsible reporting, disregarding the potential consequences of their actions.
A Personal Experience with the Effects of War
My experience with the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2018 when some colleagues from Ghana and other African countries visited the country was eye-opening. I witnessed the effects of war on Somali citizens as I interacted with some of the citizens and security service officers from various countries serving there. One officer shared his experience, saying, “During Christmas, when I hear firecrackers, I lie flat on the floor. I’ve heard too many sounds from guns here , and I only realize it’s firecrackers when I’ve already embarrassed myself.”
His story highlighted the long-lasting effects of war on individuals and their families. The AMISOM also arranged for us to visit Internally Displaced Persons Camps, where we saw malnourished and weak children, unsure of their next meal. A mother speaking through an interpreter, shared her struggles, explaining that they sometimes had only one meal a day.
She said many lives had been lost and these are made of husband’s, wives, mothers, and children which had traumatised many of them. She said some citizens could not even tell whether their relatives were still alive or not which was heartbreaking.
The victim of war said some infrastructure had been destroyed including homes, medical facilities, schools and roads which had led to health issues and economic challenges such as unemployment and hence made a lot of them impoverished.
The Vulnerability of Women During War
Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, a lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Communications, emphasized the vulnerability of women during war. She explained that women are physically and psychologically affected, facing sexual attacks, rape, and sexual harassment.
She stressed that women often carry the double burden of caring for themselves and their children.
She explained that in times of war and instability, economic issues arise, and women become responsible for ensuring food is on the table.
The Lecturer advised the media to highlight the gendered dimensions of social issues during the election season to draw public attention to critical issues that greatly affect vulnerable citizens.
She called on the media to practice responsible reporting as this is crucial during sensitive periods like election seasons.
She stated that journalists must consider the potential consequences of their actions and prioritize the well-being of their audience and especially women and children.
The Lecturer also appealed to the media to project women who are contestants in the elections to support them and also encourage more women to play active roles in politics to also contribute their quota to the progress of the country.
