#PressFreedomOnGMABC: Don’t practice propaganda; focus on credibility – Wilberforce Asare urges media house owners
By: Kobina Baidoo
Ghanaian journalist and writer, Wilberforce Asare has urged media houses to make credibility a priority in their daily dissemination of information to the public despite their possible affiliation to political personalities.
Speaking as a panelist in a space held by Happy 98.9FM, which discussed the importance of press freedom, the Political and Legal Editor of Asaase Radio hinted that many media houses in present day Ghana are owned and associat with political personalities. “It is high time media personnel accepted that many of our media houses are politically exposed and would like to promote the cause of a particular political figure; many media house owners are also politically exposed.”
The legal practitioner however indicated that the political affiliations of media houses should not influence the credibility of their reportage, noting credibility as what makes one a journalist. “Be credible in your reportage; the credibility aspect is what makes you a journalist not propaganda.”
In 2024, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.
Awareness of all aspects of the global environmental crisis and its consequences is essential to build democratic societies. Journalistic work is indispensable for this purpose.
However, with Ghana going into elections in 2024, Happy98.9FM decided to focus on the theme; ”The vital role of the Ghanaian press in promoting a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process.”
