The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has urged media practitioners to remain committed to accuracy, fairness, professionalism and the national interest in disc
The report indicates that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has urged media practitioners to remain committed to accuracy, fairness, professionalism and the national interest in discharging their duties.
It further notes that he stated although media freedom was fundamental to Ghana’s constitutional democracy, its exercise came with responsibilities, particularly in an era where misinformation, polarisation and emerging digital technologies posed growing threats to public trust and social cohesion.
“The freedom of media must continue to be protected, but freedom must be exercised with responsibility. The media must remain committed to accuracy, fairness, professionalism, and the national interest,” Speaker Bagbin said.
The Speaker made the call in a speech read on his behalf, in Accra, on Thursday, at a Press Soirée organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to strengthen its strategic partnership with the media and other stakeholders.
The event, held on the theme: “Strengthening Civic Education through Strategic Partnerships,” brought together senior media practitioners, development partners, civil society organisations, and religious leaders among other stakeholders to share experiences on promoting civic consciousness, constitutional democracy, and national cohesion.
The Press Soirée formed part of efforts to build sustained partnerships with media professionals and their platforms to advance civic consciousness.
Mr Bagbin stated the media occupied a unique position in Ghana’s democracy because it provided citizens with information, facilitated public debate and helped hold leaders and institutions accountable.
However, he cautioned that irresponsible media practices could also contribute to division, misinformation and public distrust.
He stated the rapid spread of information through digital platforms had made the media’s responsibility even more critical, as false information could reach thousands or millions of people within minutes.
The Speaker also expressed concern over the growing use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to create content that could make it increasingly difficult for citizens to distinguish facts from manipulation and deliberate deception.
He urged the media to deepen their collaboration with the NCCE to promote civic awareness and democratic values.
“Our airwaves, newspapers, television platforms, and digital spaces should not only inform citizens about political events. They should also educate citizens about the Constitution, their civic duties, the institutions of state, and the importance of peaceful participation in public life,” he said.
Democracy, Mr Bagbin stressed, was not sustained by elections alone, but also by informed and active citizens, accountable public institutions, and meaningful citizen participation in governance.
He called for stronger collaboration among Parliament, the NCCE, media organisations, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, educational institutions, development partners and the private sector to deepen civic education.
