THE chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Kabral Blay-Amihere, has called on African journalists to hold themselves accountable to the constituents of the region.
That, he said, was the only way press freedom could be guaranteed and peace and reconciliation among the people promoted.
Mr Blay-Amihere said this in Accra on Wednesday at a regional meeting on ‘Media, Conflict and Democracy’, organised by the ECOWAS Commission, which was to take stock of media roles in the birth and nurturing of modern West African states in nation building and forging an identity for the region.
He stated that it was better for journalists to regulate themselves towards the path of peace and reconciliation than turning out stories that only fuelled conflicts.
“The time has come for our journalists to be responsible to the people through their own rules and regulations,” he added.
Mr Amihere noted that responsible reportage ensured absolute press freedom “but when that is abused, it is then that governments come in to curtail the freedom”.
The president of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ransford Tetteh, said the media’s role in peace and reconciliation should not be compromised.
“You must always play down conflict and adopt positive approach towards putting stories into the public domain,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Information Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, urged the ECOWAS Commission to put in place a regional agenda owned and operationalised by media stakeholders in member states.
Such a move, he said, would in the long run reverse the trend of persecution against the media as well as complement conflict prevention efforts.
“We need to have a regional framework that is domesticated and implemented to enable the media to play their expected role in enlightening the people,” he said.
He noted that ECOWAS mediation efforts would not achieve the intended purpose if a long lasting framework was not put in place to tackle the root courses of conflicts in the region.
“Incidentally, most of these conflicts are largely influenced by rapidity of information dissemination by the media, a factor that draws quick response from factions or parties, thus in many cases lead to its escalation,” he added.
Mr Ablakwa, therefore, implored the media to be responsive to the needs of their communities so as to create an enabling environment for economic freedom and development.
He stated that West African states could no longer divert scarce resources for peace-keeping duties in member states adding, “We need to sustain the peace the region is currently enjoying.”
The Commissioner, Political Affairs of ECOWAS, Col Mahamane Toure, said the meeting would put in place regional norms and standards for media practitioners to promote hate-free media practice, accountability and good governance.
He said the media had recorded tremendous progress in sustaining the democratic gains and public accountability at a great cost to the individual safety of practitioners.
“It is for this reason that the impact of media work on peace, security and development will be felt more intensely to ensure the safety of practitioners,” he noted.
That, he said, was the only way press freedom could be guaranteed and peace and reconciliation among the people promoted.
Mr Blay-Amihere said this in Accra on Wednesday at a regional meeting on ‘Media, Conflict and Democracy’, organised by the ECOWAS Commission, which was to take stock of media roles in the birth and nurturing of modern West African states in nation building and forging an identity for the region.
He stated that it was better for journalists to regulate themselves towards the path of peace and reconciliation than turning out stories that only fuelled conflicts.
“The time has come for our journalists to be responsible to the people through their own rules and regulations,” he added.
Mr Amihere noted that responsible reportage ensured absolute press freedom “but when that is abused, it is then that governments come in to curtail the freedom”.
The president of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ransford Tetteh, said the media’s role in peace and reconciliation should not be compromised.
“You must always play down conflict and adopt positive approach towards putting stories into the public domain,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Information Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, urged the ECOWAS Commission to put in place a regional agenda owned and operationalised by media stakeholders in member states.
Such a move, he said, would in the long run reverse the trend of persecution against the media as well as complement conflict prevention efforts.
“We need to have a regional framework that is domesticated and implemented to enable the media to play their expected role in enlightening the people,” he said.
He noted that ECOWAS mediation efforts would not achieve the intended purpose if a long lasting framework was not put in place to tackle the root courses of conflicts in the region.
“Incidentally, most of these conflicts are largely influenced by rapidity of information dissemination by the media, a factor that draws quick response from factions or parties, thus in many cases lead to its escalation,” he added.
Mr Ablakwa, therefore, implored the media to be responsive to the needs of their communities so as to create an enabling environment for economic freedom and development.
He stated that West African states could no longer divert scarce resources for peace-keeping duties in member states adding, “We need to sustain the peace the region is currently enjoying.”
The Commissioner, Political Affairs of ECOWAS, Col Mahamane Toure, said the meeting would put in place regional norms and standards for media practitioners to promote hate-free media practice, accountability and good governance.
He said the media had recorded tremendous progress in sustaining the democratic gains and public accountability at a great cost to the individual safety of practitioners.
“It is for this reason that the impact of media work on peace, security and development will be felt more intensely to ensure the safety of practitioners,” he noted.
