MFWA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GIZ, MINISTRY OF FINANCE ENGAGES WITH JOURNALISTS IN KUMASI: TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY ON MEDIA SECURITY.
As part of an effort to strengthen and bridge the gap between media and security personnel in Ghana, the Media Foundation for West Africa and its development partners have engaged with selected journalists and security personnel to discuss measures to reduce attacks on journalists and strengthen press freedom.
The stakeholders’ engagement, held at the Lancaster Hotel in Kumasi, with the support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Co-funded by the European Union, german corperation, the Ministry of Finance, and others brought together heads from the security agencies, program host, executives from the Ghana Journalists Association Ashanti Region, student journalist and journalists who have survived from an attcak at the course of their work.
The programme is dubbed: Strengthening collaboration between the media and security Agencies in Ghana.
Speaking to journalists at the event, Senior Director and Head of Operations for the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Dora Boamah Mawutor, mentioned that the engagement, which has already been held in five regions, aims to promote dialogue, strengthen the enforcement of laws, and encourage mutual respect between journalists and security agencies.
According to her adequate engagement with security personnel and media with the idea of learning from each other’s roles will widen the understanding of the two parties in order to be able to fight and reduce attacks, protect press freedom, and support Ghana’s democratic development.
Mrs. Mawutor reveals that, since journalists’ educate, share information with the public, and security personnel protect the journalists therefore collaboration between two entities must strengthen to to promote peace and unity among them.
The continuous meetings will also reduce target journalists to the barest minimum.
The Ashante South Deputy Regional Crime Officer, ASP Princeton Piasan Danquah, emphasized that journalists play a vital role in society by listening to the concerns of the people and informing as well as advising the public.
He noted that the work of security agencies is primarily to maintain law and order, and stressed that misunderstandings between the two sides often lead to unnecessary confrontations.
According to him, the dialogue has helped both journalists and security personnel better understand each other’s duties.
He expressed optimism that following the engagement, there will be improved cooperation and a significant reduction in attacks between journalists and security officers.
He therefore described the workshop as timely and essential in promoting mutual respect, professionalism, and peaceful collaboration in the discharge of their respective duties.
Story by Anita Frimpong
