The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and the Electoral Commission (EC) are stressing the need for credible and ethical election reporting as the December poll beckons.

They believe accurate reportage by journalists and the media would promote trust and transparency in Ghana’s democratic process.

General Secretary of the GJA, Kofi Yeboah, is urging journalists to uphold the highest standards of accuracy and integrity in their work.

He was speaking at a workshop in Kumasi organized by the GJA in collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC) on the theme “Credible Election Reporting”.

“We must ensure that the public has credible information about elections. Reporters should not fear being attacked or intimidated while doing their job. It is also our responsibility to educate the public on how to participate in elections in a peaceful and informed manner,” he said.

The workshop was aimed at equipping journalists with the skills necessary to provide the public with accurate and reliable information during elections.

Journalists were exposed to the tenets of election reporting and fact-checking, which is an essential component of credible reporting, as it helps clear misinformation that can undermine electoral processes.

The workshop also addressed the critical issue of reporters’ safety and security, emphasizing that journalists should not work in fear of harassment or violence while carrying out their duties.

“Reporters should refrain from announcing the winner of presidential or parliamentary elections and instead focus on reporting the vote counts for each candidate,” Mr. Yeboah added.

The initiative enhances the shared commitment to strengthening Ghana’s democratic process through accurate and responsible media coverage.

Lecturer at the Department of Languages and Communication Sciences in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Daniel Nkrumah, emphasised the critical importance of fact-checking in media reportage during the 2024 election.

He stressed that accurate and responsible journalism is crucial to maintaining public trust and ensuring informed decision-making among voters.

He also highlighted the responsibility of the media to verify information thoroughly before dissemination, particularly in an election cycle where misinformation and propaganda are dominant.

He offered practical tips for obtaining credible updates about presidential candidates. Using an example with the name “Michael Barnes”, he demonstrated an asterisk formation technique to refine information searches.

Dr Nkrumah concluded by urging media practitioners to prioritize integrity and fact-checking as their primary tools in reporting the upcoming elections.