Government yesterday held engagement with the media to sensitise Journalists on the implementation of Ghana’s newly drafted National Security Strategy (NSS) and also on the protection of the security of the state.
The engagement was the first of three sessions put together by the National Security Ministry and the Ministry of Information in taking broad-based inputs from relevant stakeholders, including the media on the implementation of the NSS.
Participants included Journalists drawn from various print media, television and radio networks in the Greater Accra, Central, Western, Volta, Western-North and Oti Regions.
Addressing the participants, the National Security Minister, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah said government is using the engagements to primarily equip the media with the appropriate information on the document and how it will be implemented.
He emphasised the need for the media in the country to be circumspect in their daily reportage especially on issues that have national security implications.
“The media by definition is an independent institution. There is a limit to the role of other accountability institution but for the media, it possesses the independence that enables it to hold government to account. It is a very important duty the media play which is why we get concerned.
“That is why it is important that our media men and women don’t play with the security and stability of the country. Also, it is important that the media is able to do away with sensational stories that have very serious security implications, and not because it will help to sell newspapers and get viewership”, he said.
The NSS document was launched on 7th June, 2021 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of measures to coordinate national response efforts to protect and safeguard the country from threats, risks, challenges to its security and stability from both the domestic and international environments.
On his part, Minister for Information Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah whose Ministry facilitated the engagement underscored the need for extensive education and sensitization on the content of the strategy.
He said the engagement is important because it provides stakeholders the opportunity to deepen their understanding of their roles in the implementation of the strategy.
Role of the media
The NSS identifies that the media plays a very important role in informing and shaping the perceptions of citizens in every country and Ghana is no exception.
Considered as the fourth estate of the realm, the media has the role of reporting on all aspects of governance to the citizenry and serving as a check on public office holders.
Due to the unique role it plays and its ability to disseminate information swiftly and to all segments of society, the media can be a tool for good or for bad.
Considering the provisions of the 1992 Constitution and the fact that Ghana has a culture of freedom of the press and freedom of the media, a great deal of information tends to be reported on both the traditional media and social media some of which could be considered as disinformation.
This notwithstanding, Government is committed to upholding press freedom in Ghana and encouraging professionalism within the media for the benefit of our national security and stability.
Under the auspices of this NSS, therefore, Government said it will focus on supporting the media to use its platform to create public awareness on the requirement of national unity and stability.
Government considers the media as a partner in the monitoring, detection and punishment of criminal, unconstitutional or undemocratic acts by Government officials in Ghana.
The mass media will be relied upon to help to disseminate important Government policy and decisions to all parts of the country.
Reporting on conflicts
The government has also promised to facilitate training for media personnel on reporting on issues of conflict, crisis, peace and security in order to ensure that media reports do not rather inflame such situations that are otherwise being escalated into an eruption of violence.
The media will therefore be encouraged to always play a positive role in the society, especially during crises or conflicts, using its platforms to promote conflict resolution and management.
The role of the media in fighting corruption, promoting peaceful co-existence and national security will be emphasised.
Support for NMC
Government has also committed to supporting the National Media Commission (NMC) to perform its responsibility as a constitutional regulatory body to promote a free, open and vibrant media in the country.
Media freedom, above all, will be encouraged while best practice in journalism will demonstrate the richness of Ghana’s diversity in a tolerant environment in which disagreements and differences of various opinions are embraced as a strength to Ghana’s democratic practice.
