Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has trained selected journalists in Tamale on capacity building to enhance the role of the media in conflict resolution, peace building and Democratic consolidation in Ghana.
The training started on Wednesday 31st January, 2024 and ended on February 1st, 2024.
The aim of the training was to build the capacities of journalists on peace Journalism and Fact-base conflict sensitivity reporting.
Facilitators at the two days workshop includes Prof. Kwame Karikari, Academic and Media Expert, Kojo Impraim (PhD), Programme Director, Media for peace and Sustainable Development, Bishop Prof. Albert Luguterah, Board Member (NRPC) and Kwaku Krobia Asante, Programme Officer and Team Lead, Fact-Check Ghana.
Speaking at the training, the Programme Director, for Peace and Sustainable Development at the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Dr. Kojo Impraim said they were implementing a 12th Month project from the support of US Embassy Ghana.
The programme Director mentioned that the project is seeking to build the media capacity on conflict prevention, peace building, fact -base and the triggers of insecurity in the Northern Ghana and so they are targeting to build a skills of 100 journalist across fifty media outlets including the print, online, radio, Television and social media influencers.
Dr. Impraim added that the media needs to understand peace journalism of Facts-base reporting, the triggers of insecurity in the North, issues of violence extremism, chieftaincy conflict, elections violence and youth unemployment that are threat to our peace and Security.
“Again this program is seeking to enhance your knowledge in this areas and you can use your platform to preach peace message and to produce facts-base reporting that contribute to enhance our democratic values and ensure that particularly we are going towards elections in December, the elections will be peaceful and political parties will comport themselves and citizens as well he said”.
Bishop Prof. Albert Luguterah speaking at the workshop noted that the role of the media plays a constructive and influential role in promoting peace, resolving conflicts, and contributing to the consolidation of democratic values in Ghana the media is critical in
Peace building as many of our people look up to the Media for information and literally take whatever comes out from media platforms as absolute truth.
Furthermore, the evolving media landscape, including the rise of social media and digital platforms, has altered the way information is disseminated and consumed.
This can lead to the spread of misinformation, polarization, and the amplification of divisive narratives, which can undermine peacebuilding efforts.
In response to these challenges, journalists and media practitioners need to adapt their practices by prioritizing in-depth, contextually informed reporting, promoting diverse perspectives, and engaging in peace journalism approaches that emphasize constructive and solutions-oriented coverage.
Additionally, media professionals need to navigate the ethical and
practical implications of digital media and social platforms to ensure that their reporting contributes to.recognition of this has led to increasing programmes on media/communications and peacebuilding, with common interventions including training of journalists, and development of peace Programme content.
Source: yagbonradioonline/Fataw Diwura
