Enhance creditability of NRC - Journalists urged

Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, Lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana Legon, on Friday advised Journalists to approach the coverage of proceedings of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) in a manner that would enhance the credibility of the Commission.

Dr Gadzekpo was leading discussions on "The Ethical and Professional Challenges of Reportage" of the work of the Commission at a workshop for Journalists from the Volta and Eastern regions at Ho. The workshop was organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) with sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP.

She said Journalists would be confronted by philosophical, logistics and professional challenges in covering the work of the Commission. She said the philosophical challenge to confront the media would arise from the roles played by some Journalists in either promoting or opposing those regimes, whether they were themselves victims or beneficiaries of those actions.

Dr Gadzekpo said the political inclinations of Journalists under the present democratic dispensation would also have to be overcome to ensure that they are not influenced with political biases. She said the existing inadequate logistic positions of the media would task their ability and professional approach to their work with the Commission and recommended the pooling of resources among journalists.

Journalists should be guided by the ethics of the profession and not to sensationalise proceedings of the Commission. Dr Gadzekpo said it was imperative for journalists to understand the parameters of the Commission's work so as to assist the public to also do the same.

She stressed the need for professional handling of opinions, comments, conjectures and evidence likely to raise ethnic emotions.

The participants acknowledged that the workshop provided them with a deep appreciation of the central and sensitive roles of the media to make or mar the work of the Commission.

They also acknowledged that the media should carry out more education to inform the public about the Commission and its mandate.

It was their view that citizens should be educated on the importance of Human Rights to the sustenance of democracy so that the culture of human rights protection would be adopted as a way of life.

The participants said it was imperative that the work of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) and other human rights institutions be highlighted for the people to relate to them.