We need circumspection on matters of national security

The media play a very key role in the dissemination of information, educating and entertaining the public in modern-day societies.

A great responsibility, therefore, lies on the shoulders of media persons to publish information that is not only credible or accurate but also inures to the benefit of society.

Ghana has been touted as one of the countries that enjoy media freedom globally. Journalists and persons working in media establishments are able to do their work without much restriction and censorship and do not have to look over their shoulders after they have published stories, unlike other countries where journalists are under constant threat from the security agencies.

The freedom being enjoyed by the Ghanaian media notwithstanding, the onus lies on journalists to sieve information before going public with it.

The recent publication of a leaked intelligence document detailing a terrorist attack on Ghana was one instance where Ghanaian journalists needed the utmost circumspection because the information bordered on the security of the state.

While we know that the various media houses are in competition as to which of them became the first to break any sort of news, we believe that unlike social media which churn out anything and everything to the public, the traditional media are trained to know what to publish and what not to publish.

This rule is meant to sanitise the airwaves, as well as keep society intact, civilised and safe at all times.

The storm seems to have abated with the latest development involving another announcement by Prophet T. B. Joshua that his earlier prophecy that Ghana and Nigeria would come under attack by terrorists had been averted because Ghanaians had prayed fervently.

While this may be true, the Daily Graphic would like to re-echo a statement by the Christian Council of Ghana that a nation was not run on prophecies.

This means the security agencies have a specific mandate — to maintain and protect the peace of the country by collecting intelligence reports and working with them to ensure peace and security of the public at all times. 

In any case, it would be foolhardy for anyone to think that because the Nigerian prophet has beaten a retreat on his earlier prophecy of a ‘foreign attack’ on Ghana and Nigeria, we can go back to sleep.

The Daily Graphic reiterates its call on all members of the media fraternity to henceforth exhibit extreme care in running with the ‘news’, especially when it has not been verified from the appropriate sources.

We need to promote societal cohesion by acting very responsibly with any information we are able to gather by virtue of our role. 

When we know that the publication or airing of any news item will hurt the peace of the country, we should refrain from publishing it to ensure that we stay together as one people with a common destiny.