NCCE calls for stronger relationship with media

The Chairperson of Ghana's National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, is urging for a stronger partnership between her organization and the media to enhance constitutional awareness, responsible citizenship, and the strengthening of Ghana's democracy. Ms. Addy emphasized that collaboration between the NCCE and the media is crucial for reaching citizens and effectively carrying out the Commission's mandate.

During a media engagement in Accra, the NCCE Chairperson highlighted the importance of media in amplifying the work done by the NCCE. She stressed that without proper reach and media support, the Commission's impact would be limited. The engagement was not merely a social gathering, but an opportunity for the NCCE, journalists, and other partners to build relationships, share perspectives, and strengthen their understanding of each other's roles.

Kathleen Addy expressed concern over the increasing threats posed by misinformation, deliberate disinformation, hate speech, intolerance, online harassment, and deep fake content. She noted that advances in artificial intelligence have made it possible to create highly convincing but false images, videos, and audio recordings, making it difficult to distinguish fact from falsehood in the age of rapid communication.

Recognizing the speed at which information now travels, Ms. Addy stressed the importance of accurate, fair, independent, and trustworthy journalism. She urged journalists to prioritize accuracy over the rush to be the first to publish, and emphasized the media's responsibility to help citizens distinguish evidence from mere assertions and legitimate disagreement from incitement.

The NCCE's mandate extends beyond just civic education, encompassing areas such as democracy, human rights, nationalism, voter education, peace and conflict resolution, environmental sustainability, global citizenship, and anti-corruption. The Chairperson emphasized that the NCCE is not meant to be a commentator on every public controversy, but rather, its primary focus is on core constitutional functions.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, expressed support for enhanced civic education, urging for adequate resources and starting the education process from the grassroots level. He also highlighted the need for deliberate investment in the younger generation to foster a stronger sense of responsibility towards the country. Bagbin stressed that democracy is not sustained solely by elections, but by an active interest in decisions, laws, and policies that affect citizens' lives.