Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications and governance advocate Shamima Muslim has urged Ghana’s media to broaden its role beyond conventional news reporting and become an active partner in preventing conflict and protecting the country’s democratic stability.
She said journalists and media organisations have a critical responsibility to provide accurate information, identify emerging tensions and help prevent situations that could threaten Ghana’s peace and constitutional order.
Ms Muslim made the call at a capacity-building workshop organised by the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) in collaboration with the National Security Secretariat at the Platinum Bay Hotel in Ga East in the Greater Accra Region.
She argued that the changing information environment requires the media to rethink its traditional approach, particularly as misinformation and inflammatory content can rapidly escalate tensions.
According to her, the future relevance of the media should not be determined by the decline of traditional newspapers but by how effectively journalists adapt to new responsibilities in an increasingly complex information landscape.
“Print has not died. It must evolve from newspaper to an early warning partner,” she said.
Ms Muslim also called for stronger cooperation between the media, government and national security institutions, stressing that such collaboration must not compromise the independence of journalists or constitutional freedoms.
She said Ghana needs an information environment where journalists can investigate issues without intimidation, while security agencies are able to perform their duties without unnecessary exposure.
“We must build an information environment in which the media can investigate without intimidation, security institutions can operate without reckless exposure, and citizens can access credible information,” she stated.
She further urged journalists to recognise the potential impact of their platforms, particularly during periods of political or social tension.
According to her, inaccurate reporting, irresponsible commentary and the deliberate spread of divisive information could undermine national cohesion and create conditions for conflict.
“No one wins in times of war,” she cautioned.
Ms Muslim also challenged media practitioners to consider how Ghana’s present events would be documented for future generations.
She questioned whether the country would be able to leave behind a credible historical record based on verified information and responsible journalism.
“When Ghana’s history is written, will there be a printed, credible record that says this is the true account—verified, calmed when we needed to calm, protected when we needed to protect—reflection of our history?” she asked.
She commended PRINPAG and the National Security Secretariat for bringing media practitioners and security officials together, describing such engagements as important for building trust and improving professional understanding between the two sectors.
Ms Muslim maintained that cooperation should ultimately serve the public interest while preserving the media’s watchdog role.
She called on journalists to uphold accuracy, professional ethics and constitutional freedoms, while remaining conscious of their responsibility to safeguard Ghana’s peace and democratic gains.
“Our collective duty is clear: to communicate accurately, to act responsibly, to defend constitutional freedoms, and to place the peace and security of Ghana above every competing interest,” she said.
Linking her message to President John Dramani Mahama’s call for a national reset, Ms Muslim said the renewal must extend beyond the economy and politics to journalism, security and the country’s institutions.
She urged stakeholders to strengthen trust, promote truth and build enduring channels of cooperation capable of protecting Ghana’s democratic achievements.
The workshop forms part of efforts to enhance the professional capacity of media practitioners and foster constructive engagement between independent media organisations and national security institutions.
