Prioritize and report accurately on migration-related issues - Journalists told

Journalists especially those championing the cause of migration has been charged to help prioritize and accurately report on migration and human trafficking issues in the country.

Mrs. Linda Asante-Agyei, the Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) made the call while addressing journalists at a Lessons Learnt Workshop on Migration held for Migration Reporters within the Greater Accra Region on Wednesday, April 03, 2019.

“We all know that as journalists, we have a critical role to play in shaping perception especially on migration therefore I’ll urge all of you to adequately and accurately report on migration-related issues”.

The workshop, an initiative of Media Response with support from IOM Ghana seeks to help solicit feedback from the journalists who were earlier trained in the area of investigative journalism on migration within the Greater Accra Region.

Speaking in interview, Mr. Samuel Dodoo, the Executive Director of Media Response advise journalists to champion the cause and continue to build up on their capacity, conduct more research and specialize in the area of migration.

He also called on journalists in the country to endeavor to join the network for media personnel on migration as well as associate themselves with the International network of journalists who are equally committed to shedding light on issues of migration.

“This is going to open them up to their requisite experience and access to various resources and support even at the International level”, Mr. Dodoo stressed.

The one-day Lessons Learnt Workshop in Accra which formed part of a project titled: “Media Training on Public Sensitization on Economic Community of West African State(ECOWAS) and Migrants’ Rights” brought various recommendations all pointing out towards stakeholders’ support for journalists reporting on migration-related issues to improve their skills and capacity to shed light on sensitive issues on the situation.

Giving accounts details on the two-year project which was facilitated by the Media Response, Mr. Samuel Dodoo, explained the workshop under the project was jointly funded by the European Union and ECOWAS Commission and organized by FMM West Africa, Media Response with partners including the IOM Ghana, Ministry of Information, Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana News Agency, Information Services Department, Ghana Independent Broadcaster’s Association, and the Migration Media Network.

According to him the workshop had been held in three other regions namely; Western, Ashanti, and Northern Regions to ascertain from journalists the lessons learnt over the past two years when the project commenced in the country.

“In all, up to 80 journalists have been trained in investigative journalism and the use of social media, mobile apps and designing public media campaign messages on free movement and migration in four project implementing regions.”

Mr. Dodoo noted the project which started in May 2017 after it was launched by the Former Minister of Information, Hon. Mustapha Hamid, in its completion stage will be climaxed with an award ceremony where winners of competition on migration reporting which was opened for journalists especially those who participated in the workshop to write on migration issues last year.

He disclosed 20 entries were received in the competition and were evaluated by a team of experts from the Ghana Journalists Association(GJA), Ghana News Agency(GNA) and the Ghana Institute of Journalism which will see top 10 award winners honored on May 3, 2019.

“At this ceremony, we are going to have all partners coming down from the EU, ECOWAS, IOM and other donor agencies especially the donor community in Ghana and the diplomatic community.”

“In fact, we’re looking at awarding, up to ten (10) contestant who took part in the competition who will stand before a very great diplomatic communities and receive awards on migration”, Mr. Dodoo concluded.