Editor of the Hawk newspaper, Charles McCarthy has urged his fellow media personnel to protect the integrity of the December elections by valuing the quality of objectivity in their news reportage.
In an interview with Sefa Danquah on the ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ show, he explained that the integrity of the elections can be protected through the use of technology.
He suggested there should be more use of cameras, be it phone cameras or video cameras to capture all important events at polling stations.
“As the media, we have a responsibility to report what we see. We need to take ourselves from the report. We need to protect the integrity of the election. We must open our eyes. If media houses are committed to protecting the integrity of the elections, we will send cameras.
Now social media can take video. We can go live. The contents can tell people the evidence. If you are doing the right thing you are not afraid of a phone camera or a video camera. And I believe this will eliminate the lies”, he said.
He further advised that media personnel must take advantage of the accreditation given to them by the Electoral Commission to report objectively on events during the elections.
Meanwhile, Charles expressed disappointment in the omission of names of media personnel and security personnel in the special voters’ list.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has said that majority of journalists cannot vote under Special Voting in the December polls because their details are missing in the Special Voting list.
Security Analyst Adam Bonaa also says a majority of security officials have their names missing on the electoral commission’s special voters list.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah