General
Co-ordinator of Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult,
Mr Ameyibor, who gave the advice at Abesim near Sunyani to end a
two-day workshop organised by the Legal Resource Centre for 30 journalists from
the Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and the Eastern regions, said journalists must avoid
wearing distinctive signs to indicate either a party or candidate affiliation.
The workshop, on the theme; “Ensuring Peaceful Elections the Roleof the Media,” and sponsored by the British High Commission, aimed at educating
participants across the country on the role to play in the peace-building
towards Election 2016 and beyond.
He said journalists had a role to play in monitoring elections to
ensure transparency in the voting process and, therefore, implored them to
respect the electoral laws, rules and regulations whilst monitoring electoral
activities.
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| Francis Ameyibor |
This, Mr Ameyibor said, was because premature announcement of
unverified results could create unnecessary tension and trouble among
supporters of different candidates.
He urged participants to refrain from publishing information that
encouraged divisions and aggressive discussions to incite violence that would
endanger social cohesion.
Alhaji Suallah Abdallah Quandah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Executive
Secretary of the National Peace Council, speaking on: “The Role of the Media inConflict Management and Peace-Building,” said the media’s role as the watchdog
of the society was very vital to enhance democracy and responsible governance.
He said by their watchdog role, the media could expose electoral
malpractices like vote buying by politicians and errors of omission by people
in authority in their pursuit to cling to power.
He said the media’s watchdog role also enjoined them through their
reportage to forewarn the general public, political parties and candidates on
potential issues and events that had the propensity to cause violence.
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