GJA launches Election 2020 Media Convention

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has launched the ‘Election 2020 Media Convention’ in Accra today (March, 10, 2020).
Dubbed,”The 2020 Election-Role of the Media in Promoting Civility and Discernment in the Political Discourse”, the convention which was launched in collaboration with the US Embassy will give journalists the opportunity to internalize the guidelines on electoral reporting.
Speaking at the launch of the election 2020 media convention, President of the GJA, Dr Roland Affail Monney stated ,”A Malian proverb has it that no one finger can wash the contextually, none of the actors in the political space – the Electoral Commission, political parties, democratic institutions, security agencies, media practitioners and the public can operate in isolation to achieve a credible and peaceful election which is the centerpiece of democracy.  It will, of utmost necessity, take collaborative and complimentary efforts of all the political actors to consolidate Ghana’s democratic tradition relative to elections.”
According to him, the convention is, therefore, designed to bring together all the key players to cross fertilize and cross pollinate ideas and strategies to pass the crucial electoral test on 7th December.
“Journalists in the Convention will have the opportunity to internalize the guidelines on electoral reporting and other relevant body of knowledge from some of the purest intellectual gems in the media who will serve as resource persons,” he said.
The GJA President identified that since Ghana abandoned the bullet course and embraced the ballot box in 1992 as a means of choosing her leaders, Ghana prides itself on conducting seven elections on the bounce, stating however that, “we should not and dare not be intoxicated by this feat, no matter how narcotic it may be.”
“We should also not be swayed into thinking that another electoral success will be a happenstance. It will not. The incredible stakes, rising tensions, ominous clouds and imponderable issues over the voters register for instance reinforce this point,” he said.
Dr Affail Monney said that,”The media have professional, ethical, constitutional, moral and godly responsibilities to help defuse the tensions and shape the complexion of this year’s electioneering.”
He added that,”The point can hardly be articulated that toxic campaign and peaceful election do not belong to the same sentence. Hence, the GJA’s iron clad commitment to and unapologetic resolve to promote civility and discernment in the political discourse as the theme for the Media Convention amplifies.”
He said that the GJA with the support of Star Ghana is pursuing a campaign against political vigilantism.
“This cancer must be extirpated by all means in order to make the relevant law meaningful.  To this end, any action or inaction which can acidify or thuggify our political system must not escape media exposure or censure. We need the support of all to win this fight and secure the oxygen of peace,” he said.
Meanwhile, he observed that certain journalists double the evil of toxic politics by either indulging in reckless rhetoric or encouraging politicians to do same, adding that ,”The time to heal themselves is now.”
“The challenges are daunting and expectations are soaring. The media have no choice than to deliver the best coverage of the election. By dint of will and the grace of God, we will succeed, he stated.”
He also urged journalists to quickly stop and correct persons, especially politicians who say things that may bring chaos or any sort of confusion to the country while interviewing them.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh also urged the media to give equal platforms to all the political parties before, during and after the elections.
That, he said will enable all of them share their ideas.
He urged the media not to give publicity to statements that could mar the democracy of the nation and the peace the country has enjoyed.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori