Journalists urged to be peace advocates

  
A Board Member of the Ghana Peace Council, Bishop James Saah, has urged journalists to be agents for promoting peace and unity, not destruction and confusion.

According to him, journalists are the mouth and ear piece of the public, through which the country can continue to enjoy peace and economic tranquility, if they avoid statements that would create tension among the populace.

According to him, Ghana is currently at a stage where individuals hold divergent opinions about issues and event

Speaking under the theme “Reportage on hot spots for Election 2016: Conflict map of Ghana,” he said disagreements, problems, disputes, conflicts, violence and war would occur if the citizens fail to accept and tolerate one another's opinion.

Bishop James Saah added that journalists hold the responsibility, as the agents of change, to inform and educate the citizenry on issues that would promote peace and development.

The renowned motivation speaker made this statement at a special media training workshop on Peaceful Election 2016 this week in Accra.

Dr. Enyonam Canice Kudonoo, Senior Assistant Professor, Ashesi University College, addressed the journalists on “Why the media must play a positive role for Peaceful Election 2016.”

She advised journalists to take precautions on their choice of words in their reportages, and for them to communicate effectively, they should prepare, engage and analyse concerns to explicate the kind information they pass out into the public domain.

The workshop, which was attended by 40 journalists selected from the southern belt of Ghana, had the Director of Communication, National Commission for Civic Education, addressing the topic “Why peace matters before, during and after Election 2016.”

The work shop was powered by Creative Storm and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and was aimed at raising awareness about the critical need for peace before, during and after the elections.