As the fourth estate of the realm, Ghana’s media has contributed a lot to the socio-economic enhancement of Ghanaians. Media practitioners have played and continue to play effective and proactive roles in building a strong democratic culture in this nation.
It therefore does not surprise us at Today at all that Ghana’s press is recognized globally as very vibrant.
Ghanaian journalists have an onerous duty to ensure that governments implement policies that will bring relief and comfort to ordinary citizens of this country. That is why many Ghanaians expect journalists to play its watchdog role effectively and always keep those in power on their toes.
It is against this backdrop that we agree with the admonition by Professor Kwame Karikari, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), to journalists to ignore what he described as “empty noises” of some politicians in this country, and rather concentrate on issues that will affect positively the lives of Ghanaians.
According to Prof Karikari, “there is the need to shift journalism from the issues of politicians and concentrate more on the things that affect everyday lives. In this country many of us journalists prefer to dance to the tune of politicians rather than serving the larger interest of Ghanaians”.
On most of the early morning newspaper review programmes on radio stations it is sad that we have not had fruitful deliberations from our panelists many of whom are journalists. Journalists who get the rare privilege of being part of newspaper review programmes have become too partisan, and instead of holistically deliberating on issues that will better the lot of Ghanaians, do otherwise.
As journalists it behooves us to set the agenda for national development. We must be seen as people always fighting for the masses of this country. Unfortunately, many Ghanaian journalists who find themselves on newspaper review programmes, obviously due to their selfish interest, prefer to be identified with party A or B.
Indeed, we as journalists have allowed politicians too much space to dictate and manipulate us to suit their whims and caprices to the total neglect of the ordinary Ghanaian.
And for allowing ourselves to be used as agents, the politicians also go every mile possible to use gullible media practitioners in pursuit of their partisan agenda and in the process succeed in their trickery to shift attention of society from their failures and inability to deliver. This is often an agenda pursued by both the government party and other opposition elements.
This is something as journalists we need to seriously guard against. We need to be mindful of politicians many of whom are nothing more than a bunch of deceitful lot. This therefore makes it imperative for us to be assertive in the execution of our responsibilities.
We must try and guard against the machinations of politicians. We must always know that it is our responsibility to serve Ghanaians by informing, educating and entertaining, and more importantly helping to improve the wellbeing of the masses.
