GJA cautions media on reportage on businesses but MFWA disagrees

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has cautioned the media to be circumspect in their reportage, especially with regard to investigative stories.

In a statement signed by its President, Mr Affail Monney, the GJA urged journalists to verify all facts when they conducted any investigative piece, adding that such reportage must be “strictly guided by ethical values and, especially, the GJA Code of Ethics”.

“It is adherence to ethical principles which will serve as the shield to the investigative journalist and provide the canopy of credibility to his or her work,’’ it said.

The association also called for investigative stories to be “balanced’’ and that “all facts must be fully verified before they are thrown into the public domain”.

“We should be mindful of using the media to wage a smear campaign against individuals, especially local businesses and personalities who have made substantial contribution to the growth of the economy,’’ it added.

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“Media trial’’

Although the statement applauded journalists for engaging in investigative works, part of the media’s constitutional obligation of holding people accountable, it called on the media to desist from pronouncing “certain people guilty in the media, while no court of competent jurisdiction has even tried them”.

“Such trial by the media can inflict serious reputational injury and cause devastating harm to their businesses that could ultimately have adverse effects on the Ghanaian economy. It can also ignite a backlash in the form of suits or legal wrangling from aggrieved persons,” it said.

The statement, however, failed to mention specific names or instances of media houses or journalists, but it comes on the heels of an investigative piece by Manasseh Azure Awuni of  Joy FM  that allegedly accused the Jospong Group of Companies of inflating a contract for the supply of waste bins.

Condemnation

Meanwhile, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has condemned the GJA statement and urged the association not to undermine investigative and anti-corruption reporting.

A statement signed and issued by the Executive Director of the MFWA, Mr Sulemana Braimah, said it was surprised about the stance taken by the association.

“To the casual observer of developments in the media landscape in Ghana, the GJA's statement may pass as an ordinary, regular or normal advisory note from the leadership of the association to its members.

“But, as active and conscious observers of developments in the media landscape, the content, context, timing and vagueness of the GJA statement cannot but leave us wondering as to what could have prompted and/or motivated such a statement from the leadership of the association, given the palpable absence of context and the lack of reference to any specific recent or past instances that could warrant the unusual cautionary note from the GJA,” it said.

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Lack of context

The foundation observed that given the lack of context and reference, the GJA statement needed clarity and one was compelled to seek answers to the following consequential questions from the GJA.

"What is the basis of the release? What is the underlining reason for the release? Who have been tried and pronounced guilty in and by the media? Who is waging a smear campaign in the media and against which local businesses or personalities? What are the specific instances of unfair, unbalanced, fabricated reporting by an investigative journalist?”

It said “anything short of responses to the above questions will expose the statement for what it is — a propaganda piece of advisory note meant to appease and serve the interest of big businesses; to stifle investigative journalism and undermine anti-corruption reporting.”

 “Corruption remains the biggest threat and challenge to Ghana's development. Persons (whether Ghanaian or foreign) who perpetrate acts of fraud and corruption can never be doing so in the interest of Ghanaians. Through their acts of corruption, they deprive the nation of millions of cedis that could be used to create jobs, provide amenities and help improve conditions of the poor,” it noted.

Remain unwavering

The MFWA, therefore, urged “journalists who are committed to the true values of journalism to remain unwavering in their fight against corruption. We remain committed to supporting the few honest, dedicated and selfless journalists who continue to risk their lives and work tirelessly to expose corrupt personalities and businesses who perpetrate fraud on the nation.”