The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with the US Embassy has organised a workshop on Peaceful Journalistic Discourse for media practitioners and stakeholders in Accra on Wednesday, August 28,2024.
The theme of the GJA/US Embassy Ghana project was “Promoting Peaceful Journalistic Media Platforms Ahead of Election 2024 (Journalists for Peaceful Discourse).”
The objective of the project is to promote violent-free and credible elections in Ghana through well-informed and trained journalists who use best practices for fact-based and non-partisan election reporting.
The project provided professional development to online editors, producers, on-air personalities, and talk show hosts, to build their knowledge base and contribute to violent-free elections.
Read Also: GJA, US Embassy prepare journalists for 2024 polls
Speaking at the event, which was a learning, closeout and stakeholder engagement, the GJA President, Mr Albert Dwumfour noted that the first of the training workshops took place in Ho, which included the Volta and Oti Regions.
Zone two, he noted, covered the North’s five regions (Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper West, and Upper East) while Zone three was held in the Ashanti Regional Capital Kumasi, which included Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions.
He stated that the Greater Accra, Central, and Eastern Regions were in Zone Four, which was held in Accra, adding that the last of the five Zonal trainings, which was held in Takoradi, trained journalists working in the Western and Western North regions.
According to Mr Dwumfour, the zonal training drew major stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission, the National Media Commission, and the Ghana Police Service, as well as some experts in the digital space, to deliberate on areas of interest in electioneering.
It is said that “everything that has a beginning must have an end,” but I take pride in what the GJA and the US Embassy have achieved so far through this peaceful journalistic dialogue, in which over 400 journalists have been trained nationwide. This is no mean achievement,” he said.
The GJA President expressed hope that the project will help shape the media environment and further reduce the excesses of the media to the barest minimum, especially during electioneering.
“The GJA believes that freedom of expression does not only mean allowing people to speak but also ensuring responsibility, knowing there is a need to protect the very space used for free speech,” He said.
He again stated that the project has the potential to effectively combat the spread of hate speech, disinformation, misinformation, and polarizing narratives in the era of social media.
“Disinformation and polarizing narratives are particularly troubling because they serve as the tools for weaponizing information. And the earlier we confront this danger, the better,” he added.
Mr Dwumfour emphasized that the stakes in Ghana’s general elections are usually high, noting that it will go a notch higher in 2024, taking into account the incumbent NPP’s resolve to “break the eight” to retain power, while the opposition NDC is equally determined to recapture power.
He said the backdrop of insecurity, terrorism, and insurgency in West Africa, along with the country’s economic hardship, is also a factor in the 2024 election.
“All these factors point to a heightened and tense atmosphere, raising the need to ensure that journalists and Talk Show hosts, in their agenda-setting roles, maintain an atmosphere that encourages discussion of policy issues while promoting and protecting the space for peaceful discourse, which is integral to a successful peaceful election in December 2024,” he added.
He continued,”Elections always challenge democratic institutions, but resilient institutions always rise to the challenge. I have no doubt that these workshops we’ve held in partnership with the US Embassy would strengthen us as journalists and cause us to deliver on our mandate and rise to the challenge.”
Meanwhile, Mr Dwumfour again noted that there is a growing intolerance towards the media, and attacks on them are becoming more frequent.
“While I urge my colleagues to abstain from actions that jeopardize our democracy and peace, I also want to warn those who attack the media that the GJA will not tolerate any attacks on journalists leading up to the elections, as we will resist such actions,” he stressed.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
 in collaboration with the US Embassy has organised a workshop on Peaceful Journalistic Discourse for media prac){kind=link}