Media-government partnership vital to Ghana’s democracy – Shamima Muslim
Deputy Government Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, has praised the long-standing interaction between the media and successive governments, describing it as a key force behind Ghana’s democratic development and public accountability. She said the media’s persistent scrutiny of government, together with the willingness of public institutions to respond to legitimate criticism, had helped the country…
Deputy Government Spokesperson Shamima Muslim celebrated the enduring relationship between Ghana's media and government, emphasizing its significance in shaping the nation's democratic progress and promoting accountability. In an address at the Ghana Journalists Association's 77th Anniversary Symposium and Lecture, Ms Muslim highlighted the media's relentless scrutiny of government actions as a critical element in maintaining public trust and ensuring transparency.
She noted that this constant oversight, coupled with the government's openness to legitimate criticism, enabled Ghana to weather instances where democratic principles were threatened.
Muslim underscored the media's vital role in advocating for the public's right to information and highlighting instances of corruption and abuse of public resources. She pointed to collaborative efforts between media organizations and institutions like Parliament, the Public Accounts Committee, and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) as instrumental in exposing significant scandals, thereby reinforcing the notion that those in power must be accountable for their actions.
These collective efforts have not only uncovered major corruption cases but have also served as a deterrent for those wielding political power.
Furthermore, Muslim stressed the media's contribution to national reform discussions, such as the media's engagement with the Constitution Review Commission in 2010 and subsequent national reforms. The media's public education initiatives on voter registration and electoral processes have enhanced citizens' understanding of electoral procedures, thereby deepening transparency in elections by fostering greater vigilance over the electoral process.
Muslim reiterated that the nation's democratic achievements could only be preserved through continued collaboration between the media and state institutions, emphasizing the importance of their ongoing partnership.
Written by urgent.news from Adom Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
