The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has expressed concerns over the growing misinformation and sometimes, deliberate disinformation going on media platforms, i.e. TV, radio and online platforms.
According to him, disinformation if not checked, trust in the media profession will soon be eroded.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah made the assertion at the 27h Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, held on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at the International Conference Centre.
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Speaking at the event, he cited some instances where disinformation was spread in the media.
“I believe you recall the misinformation that perpetrators of the attack on UTV have been fined GHC200 each, I believe that you know that the misinformation that came out of that angered a lot of people. You must also by now have seen a video, purporting to show me, giving an address speaking against politicians, that is misinformation,” he cited.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah explained that the real event was that, he was reading excepts of a book at its launch during which the Author in the next paragraph that was cut out of that book made a point, that the point made before prove to be untrue in his experience.
“Misinformation and disinformation are growing and if not checked, at the minimum, trust in our cherished profession will soon be totally eroded. At the most, we may not even have a democracy anymore where people can exchange ideas and make decisions based on truth and fact,” He said.
The Information Minister noted that at a recently organised a National Conference on Disinformation and Misinformation led by his Ministry, a 7-point communique was agreed to by the Political Parties, CSOs, Media and development partners present.
These were;The need to combat disinformation while respecting citizens’ rights; The need to invest in research on disinformation and misinformation; The need to uphold ethical standards in media work and journalism; The need to promote and mainstream fact-checking in our public discourse; The need to support quality journalism; The need for enhanced civic education; and The need to encourage security agencies to engage with social media platforms constructively.
Drawing inspiration from the communique and drawing lessons from the Ministry’s own early efforts at advocacy, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said the Ministry of Information has resolved to complete a national action plan to combat misinformation and disinformation and have it signed off by stakeholders before the end of 2023.
Additionally, he said the Ministry will continue to provide financial support to the Technical Working Group that comprises the GJA, GIBA, PRINPAG, NMC and Academia that was established at his prompting and is responsible for organising the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme.
“Providing regular on the job training for practicing journalists is very important because of the sensitive job that we play in national life. And to cure the disinformation about this programme, let me repeat that it is only only a bursary. And No, the training is not provided by Government, neither are the beneficiaries selected by my Ministry. We are only interested in crowding-in funding so that Journalists all over the country benefit. I am reliably informed by the Technical Working Group that the next cohort will be organised in Accra in November by UNIMAC,” he said.
He congratulated all award winners and charged them to uphold the profession’s high ethical standards.
“But I also want to call out these three issues that we shouldn’t play ostrich about. one, safety of our colleagues, and then on the other hand, the need to fight disinformation and the need to support the capacity enhancements of our colleagues,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said while he remained Minister, he shall provide all he can to support initiatives aimed at responding to these three issues, adding that he looks forward to the commitment and collaboration of stakeholders and in working together in this endeavour.
“The days when there was an interest in seeing us appear to attack one another as stakeholders or individuals or media houses should be put behind us. No single entity can successfully win the war against the phenomena that is impeding the progress of journalism and media practice. Collaboration is what will win us the day,” he added.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori