Securities Services, Media Commit To Work For Peace Ahead Of December Polls.
The security services in the Ashanti Region have made a commitment to collaborate with the media to work to ensure peace before, during and after the upcoming elections in December.
At a forum organised by the Media Foundation For West Africa (MFWA) in Kumasi Thursday morning to discuss and launch a framework on Police-Media Relations and Safety of Journalists, COP Kwasi Mensah Duku, Ashanti Regional Police Commander promised a better collaboration between the security outfits and the media ahead of the impending presidential and parliamentary elections.
He stressed that the 2020 general elections would be crucial to the stability of the country, adding a collaborative effort by both outfits would ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
COP Duku urged the media to assist and crosscheck with the Police any information they may gather as the electioneering campaigns wore on.
“The Police administration in particular has seen signals of a deeper collaboration between itself and the media and we know together we could work to ensure peace before, during and after the December 7 elections”, COP Duku intimated.
CONSULTANT:
Discussing the framework, Professor Kwame Karikari, Consultant for the Framework and Board Chairman of MFWA urged both institutions to show respect to each other as they commit to work.
He noted that any act of high handedness on the part of the security agencies on the media would be seen as an act of censorship.
Prof Karikari also urged the media to respect the mandate of the security agencies so that collectively they could work for the public peace.
“It is important that as stakeholders of Ghana’s democratic path both the security agencies and the media collaborate to work to ensure peace and positive co-existence”, Prof Karikari stated.
GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION:
Kingsley E. Hope, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) welcomed the initiative.
He however urged the security agencies to demonstrate more commitment in treating journalists with respect.
Mr Hope mentioned the unfair treatment meted out to two journalists from TV3 and Metro Tv recently, adding the two were carrying up legitimate duties but assaulted without justification.
He asked that while the two institutions work together they should also respect the rights of the public.
STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI.
