Gifty Amofa/Emmanuel Todd, GNA
Accra, August 2, GNA – Mr Yaw
Boadu-Ayeboafo, the Chairman for the National Media Commission has advised
journalists to be meticulous in their reportage on crimes in order not to
misinform the public.
They are to cross-check information and
educate the public on facts that were verifiable.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo was addressing crime
reporters in Accra on Friday, at the end of a- two-day training workshop on
crime reporting and policing organised by the Ghana Police Service (GPS).
Participants were taken through the command
structure of the GPS, directives on police officers public/media engagements,
police investigations and media work, framework for police-media
relations,   procedure for complaint
against police misconduct, procedures in crime investigation, among others.
Taking participants through ethics in crime
reporting, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo said audience make their judgments from the
information given to them.
He advised them to understand the processes
and procedures in the area to properly educate the members of the public.
They should also ensure they did not
jeopardize suspects before the court pronounced them guilty, or otherwise
adding that the slips they make would affect one person in one way or the
other.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo who was also a former
Director of Newspapers with the Graphic Communications Group urged journalists
to be humble to accept their mistakes and come out with a rejoinder where
necessary.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo charged them to be
professionals and desist from being influenced by the reports they make, avoid
stereotyping, and also being used as puns by people to do their bidding, avoid
words that suggests hate, and protect minors and the vulnerable by not exposing
them to public ridicule among others.
He said as crime reporters they were obliged
to cooperate with lawful state security agencies, explaining that in as much as
the constitution guaranteed their mandate, that of the police was also
guaranteed, thus, there must be mutual respect between the two.
Chief Superintendent John Opoku of the Police
Professional Standards Bureau, formerly PIPS in his presentation disclosed that
in 2018, out of the 1709 police misconducts reported, 17 personnel were
dismissed, three had a reduction in rank and two were dismissed.
He said 550 were completed, whilst 335 were
closed with 804 still pending due to loss of interest by petitioners, among
other challenges.
Superintendent Francis Baah (Retired),
advised media personnel to do balanced reportage since most complainants
approach the media for revenge and not for justice.
Superintendent David Selom Hukportie, in
charge of Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) Operations asked journalists
to cooperate with investigators in order that they do not lost vital evidence
which may make suspects get off the hook.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David
Eklu, Director General of Public Affairs advised reporters to learn negotiating
skills to reduce friction between them and the police.
Professor Kwame Karikari, Communications
Consultant advised personnel to put their safety first in the course of their
duty. They should make sure they did not expose police to unwarranted public
danger.
GNA
