ACCRA, Ghana, 7th November: President John Dramani Mahama has urged journalists and media organisations to strengthen professional standards by ensuring accuracy, fairness and accountability in their reportage.
He said media practitioners must be prepared to correct mistakes, retract inaccurate publications and apologise whenever their reporting unfairly damages the reputation of individuals or institutions.
Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, President Mahama observed that journalists sometimes get stories wrong in the course of their professional duties but struggle to acknowledge their mistakes publicly.
He maintained that issuing corrections and apologies should be an essential part of responsible journalism rather than something media organisations avoid.
“However diligent we are as journalists, there are many times when in the line of our work we get it tragically wrong,” he said.
The President added that it was only right for journalists and media houses to retract stories or apologise when they had unfortunately sullied the reputation of individuals or institutions.
He also urged newsrooms to apply the same standards of evidence when reporting on the government, the opposition and other individuals seeking to influence public debate.
According to him, anyone affected by a serious allegation must be given a fair opportunity to respond before the publication or broadcast of the report.
“When you discover an error, make the correction easy for the audience to find,” he advised.
President Mahama said taking time to verify information and correct inaccuracies, particularly in a fast-moving news environment, was critical to earning public trust.
He further encouraged experienced editors to mentor younger journalists and provide them with opportunities to develop essential reporting skills.
He cited the ability to examine public accounts as one of the important skills young journalists should acquire through practical newsroom mentorship.
The President stressed that editorial independence also comes with the responsibility to exercise sound professional judgement and resist attempts by political actors and other influential individuals to shape public discourse.
He said journalism must remain independent, credible and committed to the public interest.
The remarks formed part of his address at the 30th GJA Media Awards, held under the theme: “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age.”
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Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️) Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭