Journalists have been reminded to go the extra mile to protect the national interest and safety by being more circumspect and reporting only the truth.
This was contained in a joint press statement issued by the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA).
It was signed by Nana Kwasi Gyan-Appenteng and Mr. Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, respective chairmen of the two bodies.
The statement was the outcome of a meeting held to discuss ways to ensure responsible coverage of the elections, especially on voting day and the immediate post-election period.
The NMC and the NCA said it was important for frequency authorization holders to ensure that their platform was not used to incite violence, adding that, they should diligently and independently investigate all allegations and claims by interest groups before going public with these.
They must avoid disseminating false news, something which could “escalate tension at such a critical time”.
The statement urged them to watch against incendiary verbal attacks and inflammatory statements, likely to create trouble.
All should be guided by the code of conduct set out by the Commission, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters’ Association (GIBA) and that of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), it added.
It underlined the determination of the two bodies to work hard to ensure professionalism and to impose lawful sanctions against any media house that breached the rules.
It said Ghana’s stability should be paramount at all times and condemned any acts of election violence and intolerance
The statement called on the people to be responsible in their use of the social media to sustain the peace.
Source: GNA
