A member of the National Peace Council, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), and the Chief Imam's Advisory Board, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has called on the media to safeguard the trust the public holds in its work and live up to the task in the upcoming December 2024 general elections.
Speaking on the Joy Change-Speaker Series VII on Saturday, May 11, Sheikh Aremeyaw emphasised the paramount importance of the media in ensuring the safety and integrity of the electoral process, urging journalists to refrain from actions that could sow confusion or mistrust.
He expressed concern about the existing levels of distrust between state agencies and political parties, cautioning the media against exacerbating these tensions through their reporting.
Sheikh Aremeyaw underscored the media's obligation to uphold its constitutional responsibility to promote peace and stability in Ghana, emphasising that any deviation from this mandate would constitute a failure on the part of the press.
Furthermore, he advised media outlets to exercise discretion in selecting panellists, urging them to avoid individuals who may espouse divisive or inflammatory rhetoric.
Additionally, Sheikh Aremeyaw urged journalists to refrain from pitting political parties against each other, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the two leading parties in Ghana.
Highlighting the potential consequences of media irresponsibility, Sheikh Aremeyaw emphasised that journalists, like all Ghanaians, have a vested interest in the country's stability, as chaos could potentially lead to displacement and refugee status for citizens.
"The growing mistrust and lack of confidence in state institutions that have something to do with our electoral processes is an issue, and here I am talking about the perception of the judiciary, perception of the police, perception about the Ghana Armed Forces and the role they play in ensuring electoral security. All these things have added to the already heightened situation of suspicion and indeed even the Electoral Commission is not free the suspicion that we are talking about."
"So given the circumstance, there is already dangerous mistrust and the media shouldn’t add to it," he urged.
Credit: Ernest K Arhinful