Let’s avoid ‘breaking news' journalism – Dampare to journalists

The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has urged the media to always verify and cross-check facts of information or news before they put them out.

According to him, unverifiable information, along with disinformation and misinformation, can cause strife in society, hence the need to put it in check.

“Let us check breaking news journalism. Putting information out without first verifying and cross-checking with all relevant sources can hurt our society, and so my colleagues in the media, we must be careful,” the IGP said in his keynote address at a summit organized by the Ghana Report in Accra on Thursday, 1st August 2024.

The IGP said disinformation and misinformation pose a major threat to the security and cohesion of the state, hence the need to tackle it head-on.

“Disinformation and misinformation are national security threats, and we should see them in that perspective. We should walk out of this place changed as people seeking to make a difference from these challenges that threaten the security of our nation.”

He said it is concerning when the public that calls for the problem to be addressed ends up fighting law enforcement agencies when they take action against offenses.

“What do we want as a people? Do we want to be on the side of right or wrong? We have to make a decision. We need everybody to be part of the solution in the fight against disinformation and misinformation. When people spread such disinformation or misinformation and you take action against them, you have some people attacking those who are fighting it.”

The IGP further stressed, “The time has come for us to have a mindset change. All the things we have said so far require a mindset change. We have become so inhumane to each other such that our happiness is derived from the pain of others. We are so happy when someone is in a bad situation, and we must yearn to change from that.”