Outspoken Ashanti Regional Police Commander COP Nathan Kofi Boakye has bemoaned the conduct of journalists who have turned politicians without recourse to their professional ethics noting that it’s a major challenge to proper policing ahead of the country’s polls.
He observed that such characters have gained notoriety in politicizing crime making the work of his outfit very difficult when they are rather supposed to be those at the helm of affairs in the maintenance of peace before, during and after elections.
The police chief believes the success of the 2016 polls, largely depends on journalists in collaboration with the security agencies underscoring the need for them to exhibit a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
“Security of the 2016 elections depends on journalists and the security agencies…Journalists can make and unmake elections which is the major problems besetting journalism vis-à-vis misinformation”, he stated.
Addressing journalists at the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on Data Journalism organized by Penplusbytes with support from the US Embassy in Ghana and EIB Network, COP Kofi Boakye said it behooves on all to submerge individual interests and allow national interest to be at the apex.
According to him, journalists should endeavor to take into account the consequences of the information they seek to put out and examine it critically to ensure that it is true information, right, will not endanger security of the state and will also inure to benefit of the paper or media house they report for.
He is worried that social media has also become an avenue for untruth creating unnecessary tension with Photoshop images and videos indicating these are challenges in the fight against crime.
The maintenance of security and peace he reiterated is a task for journalists and security agencies charging all to publish the truth and stop assumptions warning against the repercussions of half truths in reporting on incidents especially at elections.
