Dr. Charles Ohene-Amoah has urged journalists to take full advantage of training opportunities to enhance their skills in promoting peace and responsible reporting. He emphasized the importance of accurate and sensitive journalism in fostering a more informed and peaceful society.
The remarks were made during the opening ceremony of a three-day training workshop in Tamale, Northern Region, which brought together over 30 journalists and media professionals from the Upper West, Savannah, and Oti Regions.
Organized by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the ECOWAS Peace and Security Project (EPSG), in collaboration with the Ghana National Peace Council (NPC), the workshop aimed to strengthen journalists’ capacities to tackle hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation.
Participants were trained in key areas such as fact-checking, open-source intelligence (OSINT), applications of artificial intelligence, conflict-sensitive reporting, and media information literacy.
The initiative is part of a wider partnership between ECOWAS and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), supported by GIZ, to equip media professionals with the tools needed to contribute positively to peace and development.
Dr. Ohene-Amoah highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa, including the rise of hate speech, misinformation, and governance changes. He assured that EPSG will work closely with regional and national stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive approach to peace and security.
He encouraged journalists to engage actively with the training, stressing that it provides the framework for delivering information that fosters peace, development, and societal harmony.
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