BONO GJA TRAINS JOURNALISTS TO PROMOTE PEACEFUL ELECTIONS

By CUG NEWS MEDIA

 

The Bono Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has organized a capacity-building session for journalists in the region under the theme “The Role of the Media in Promoting Peaceful Elections.” The event, held on November 29, 2024, brought together key stakeholders to equip media personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to cover the upcoming elections responsibly and professionally.

Speaking at the training, Mr. Asirifi Young, the Bono Regional Electoral Commission (EC) boss, commended the media for their diligent coverage of electoral processes so far. He disclosed that the Bono Region has 1,560 polling stations and encouraged journalists to freely observe and report from these locations.

However, he outlined specific access protocols for collation centers to ensure orderliness: At the Constituency Collation Level, 2 personnel each from 3 accredited TV stations and 2 personnel each from 5 accredited radio stations will be granted access. At the Regional Collation Level, the number will be limited to 2 personnel each from 5 accredited TV stations and 2 personnel each from 7 accredited radio stations.

Mr. Young also announced that special voting will take place on Monday the 2nd of December, 2024 for media personnel, security officials, and EC staff who may not be able to vote on the main election day due to their duties.

He further advised journalists to verify their facts with the Electoral Commission at the constituency or regional level before publication to avoid misinformation. He stressed the importance of waiting for official declarations by the EC before reporting election results as final, emphasizing that the media’s role is to announce incoming results, not to declare winners.

ACP Della Gyensi, representing the Bono Regional Police Command, assured the media of robust security arrangements before, during, and after the elections. He outlined measures such as

24-hour security presence at polling stations and collation centers. Management of flashpoints across the region.. Deployment of responsive patrol teams and the establishment of a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) to monitor ongoing activities.


ACP Gyensi urged journalists to collaborate with security personnel and promptly report incidents via designated hotlines.

Ms. Cynthia Anima Boadu, the Regional Director for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), addressed participants as a guest speaker on the media’s responsibility to uphold national peace and democracy.

She highlighted the dangers of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, urging journalists to verify information, educate the public on credible sources, and promote civil discourse. Ms. Boadu reminded the media of their constitutional duty to protect national security, public order, and the rights of others while adhering to ethical journalism practices.

“The media’s role in informing, educating, and fostering unity is indispensable in ensuring peaceful elections,” she stated.

Mr. Denis Peprah, the Bono Regional Secretary of the GJA, encouraged journalists to uphold professionalism during their election coverage. He advised them to: Arrive early at polling stations to engage officials and ask important questions, such as: How many polling stations are in the area? Who is the presiding officer? Are officials ready to begin voting at 7:00 a.m. as stipulated? Are there any hotspots to monitor?  

He urged participants to use appropriate language and avoid interfering in the voting process, as journalist role is to observe. He also advised on safety; “If things go wrong, run for your life first,” he cautioned.

The Acting President of the GJA, Mrs. Regina Benneh Siaw, encouraged journalists to remain committed to professionalism and integrity in their duties. She advised those who are not yet members of the GJA to join immediately for their safety and recognition within the media fraternity.
Mrs. Siaw urged participants to head to the polls on December 7th with a focus on ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections. She reminded journalists of their critical role as watchdogs and observers, stressing the need for impartiality and accuracy in their reportage.

Journalists expressed gratitude for the practical insights shared, calling for more training sessions in the future to enhance their skills and preparedness.

The training session concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to peaceful and credible elections. The Bono GJA pledged to continue building the capacity of its members to ensure accurate, balanced, and responsible reporting.

As Ghana heads to the polls, the media’s role in promoting peace and safeguarding democracy remains indispensable.

By Adam Siaka

 Wisdom 101.1 @ CUG


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF GHANA HOLDS HISTORIC VICE-CHANCELLOR HANDOVER CEREMONY

By CUG NEWS MEDIA
Image
  Fiapre, Sunyani – September 1, 2025 The Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) on Monday, September 1, 2025, officially marked the transition of its highest leadership office, as Professor Sir Daniel Obeng Ofori handed over the Vice-Chancellorship to Professor Mathew Glover Addo. The colourful ceremony at Lecture Theatre 2 (LT2) drew staff, students available on campus, university council members, and dignitaries from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, underscoring the moment’s historic significance. In his farewell address, outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Daniel Obeng Ofori, who has served the institution with distinction for the past nine years, expressed deep gratitude to God, the university community, and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for their unwavering support throughout his tenure. With a mixture of humility and hope, he officially relinquished the headship of the university, expressing confidence in the leadership of his successor, Professor Mathew Glove...
Read more

Professor Matthew Glover Addo Assumes Office as New Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana

By CUG NEWS MEDIA
Image
  The Catholic University of Ghana (CUG), Fiapre, has welcomed a new era in its academic leadership with the appointment of Professor Matthew Glover Addo , a distinguished microbiologist and molecular biologist, as the new Vice-Chancellor. Professor Addo will officially take over office on Monday, September 1, 2025 , at a brief handing-over ceremony following a welcoming meeting with the University community. Later in the day, he will pay a courtesy call on the Bishop of Sunyani, who also serves as the Episcopal Moderator of the University. Born on May 2, 1965 , Professor Addo brings to CUG over 23 years of rich academic, research, and administrative experience at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and beyond. He is the immediate past Director of the Institute of Distance Learning at KNUST and a former Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences. His academic journey has taken him across Ghana, Norway, and France, where he earned multiple advanced degrees inclu...
Read more

BONO GJA AWARDS 2024: CELEBRATING JOURNALISM AS A TOOL FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

By CUG NEWS MEDIA
Image
  The Bono and Ahafo Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has celebrated the region’s finest journalists at its third awards ceremony in Sunyani, where Daily Graphic correspondent Biiya Mukusah Ali emerged as the Overall Best Journalist of the Year 2024. The event, held under the theme “The Role of the Media as a Tool for Peace Building and Development in the Bono and Ahafo Regions,” brought together government officials, traditional leaders, members of the clergy, corporate partners, and the media fraternity. It was an evening that not only honored excellence but also reflected deeply on the responsibility of journalism in nurturing peace and development. In her keynote address, Mrs. Regina Benneh Siaw, Regional Chairperson of the Bono and Ahafo GJA, underscored the media’s crucial role as both a watchdog and an agent of social cohesion. She anoted that journalists in the region often face intimidation, harassment, and the growing challenge of misinformation, bu...
Read more