Media tasked to make government accountable

Mr Benin Douri Issifu, Acting Upper West Regional Director of the Information Service Department (ISD), has tasked the Ghanaian Media to keep governments active and alive to its responsibilities to the citizenry.

This, they could do by going to the archives and bringing out promises the politicians made during their campaigns and remind them to fulfill those promises.

They should also scientifically, evaluate the performance of governments and educate the citizenry to have informed mind and make choices on policies and programmes of governments.

Mr Issifu said this when he delivered a lecture on the: “Contribution of the media in enhancing Ghana’s democracy”, in Wa, on Thursday.

This role would be more appreciated by the citizenry than the personality attacks, poor criticism of governments’ policies and programmes and the sycophantic way of handling issues, he said.

He said at present, Ghanaians are unable to contribute effectively to the implementation of policies and programmes because the media had not helped them to understand what goes around them.

Mr Issifu called for a change of vision and mission in the media landscape to address issues affecting the vulnerable, as well as advocating for opportunities to help them out from their predicaments.

He tasked the media to be more concerned about the spate of corruption and bribery in pubic places, urging them to fight hard to eradicate the practice from the Ghanaian society.

He cautioned the media to be wary of the excesses and the unprofessional behaviours among them, which cause a government to institutionalizing laws against them.

Mr Issifu however commended the media for the vigilant and patriotic roles they played to promote democracy in the country.

The media has done well for ensuring successful elections and the sustainability of democracy that had made Ghana one of the democratic countries in Africa, Mr Issifu said.

Source: GNA