Constitutional Review Committee engages journalists, social media community

The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) is reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. On Wednesday, they met with journalists and social media representatives. The goal is to gather diverse views from all stakeholders.

Professor Amin Alhassan leads the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). He emphasized the importance of public-interest media like GBC. Such media prioritize national welfare over profit.

He noted that government broadcasters can help reduce misinformation. They provide reliable content that benefits the nation. Even with social media access, trustworthy platforms are essential.

Prof Alhassan urged for more investment in radio broadcasting. This would strengthen Ghana’s democratic process. He called for better funding for GBC to improve information delivery.

Ms Rebecca Ekpe represents the Ghana Journalists Association. She raised concerns about media regulatory bodies like the National Media Commission. Their mandates need clearer definitions to tackle misinformation effectively.

Mr Suleiman Braiman heads the Media Foundation for West Africa. He pointed out that 70% of radio stations are politically owned. These stations often promote political party interests.

He also expressed worry about social media being used for fraud and scams. He urged CRC members to amend media-related provisions in the Constitution. This includes addressing content regulation and frequency authorization issues.

Other speakers at the forum highlighted various topics for CRC consideration. These include media guidelines, social media regulations, and hate speech policies.