Empowering Media for a Peaceful Ghanaian Election: USAID AGREE Workshop Announcement
As Ghana approaches its pivotal 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, the Feed the Future Ghana Agricultural Governance, Resilience, and Economic Empowerment (AGREE) Activity, implemented by CARE Ghana, is taking proactive steps to support peaceful democratic processes. This effort has materialized in the form of a specialized workshop designed for media personnel.
Scheduled for the 25th and 26th of November 2024 at the Dellagio Hotel and Restaurant in Wa, this training session will equip journalists and reporters with the essential tools and strategies to combat hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation. Participants will also gain valuable insights into conflict-sensitive reporting, a critical skill to mitigate tensions and promote unity during elections.
The workshop will cover three key areas:
- Detecting and Countering Misinformation and Disinformation: Providing participants with tools to identify false narratives and verify facts, ensuring credible journalism.
- Preventing and Combating Hate Speech: Equipping media professionals with strategies to report responsibly on divisive issues while avoiding the amplification of harmful content.
- Conflict-Sensitive Reporting: Teaching techniques to de-escalate tensions and foster peace, especially in regions prone to electoral violence.
The event is expected to attract participation from prominent media houses such as Radford FM and Sissala Radio in Tumu, Radio Progress and Hope Radio in Wa, Pulung FM in Funsi, Suungmale in Wa, among others. These media houses play a vital role in shaping public discourse, making their involvement critical in promoting a peaceful electoral environment.
Through this workshop, the AGREE Activity aims to enhance the role of the media in fostering peace and informed decision-making during a crucial moment in Ghana’s history.
This initiative underscores AGREE’s dedication to empowering the media as guardians of democracy, ensuring that they are equipped to report responsibly and promote unity as Ghana approaches the 2024 general elections.
By Haruna Kuri Kaayi