Minority caucus urges Prez Mahama to intervene in JUSAG strike

President John Dramani Mahama has called on journalists to be more cautious in their pursuit of government scrutiny, warning against focusing on alleged controversies that may not be of public concern. He emphasized that while the media should hold public officials accountable, it is important to differentiate between legitimate investigative reporting and what he perceives as an overly confrontational approach to government operations.

Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra on Saturday, November 7, Mahama expressed worry over the level of media enthusiasm, particularly when journalists publicly question ministers about reported inconsistencies. He argued that this behavior can create unnecessary conflicts between the media and government and detract from issues that directly impact the lives of Ghanaians.

Mahama highlighted situations where journalists invite or confront ministers on their shows to explain identified discrepancies, describing such actions as crossing the line of responsible media scrutiny. "We must draw the line where journalism becomes adversarial," he stated, reflecting on his own experience as a trained journalist.

He acknowledged that the government believes in the media's role in holding officials accountable, but warned against a deliberate hunt for non-existent scandals. His remarks follow the government's expenditure of GH¢49.7 million on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa amid renewed xenophobic attacks, which has drawn criticism from the Opposition in Parliament over alleged discrepancies in the payment records.

The President reiterated his administration's commitment to media independence and accountability, stressing the need for journalists to exercise discretion in their investigations and reporting.