Some youth and citizens from the Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu and Gushiegu Municipalities and Nanton District Assembly in the Northern Region have been trained as Community Journalists as part of measures to curb the menace of violent vigilantism in our political space as the country prepares to go the polls for the General Elections in December 2020.
The two-day training workshop took place at the Catholic Guest House in Tamale from March 10-11, 2020, under a project budded, “Vigilant Citizens for Peaceful Election 2020”, which was sponsored by Star Ghana Foundation. Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development (CALID), in partnership with League of Youth Association (LYA), Non-Governmental Organisations which are into Youth and Community Development, Health, Education and Governance issues, are the project implementers.
Mr. Albert Futukpor, Chief Reporter of the Ghana News Agency, Tamale, who was the Resource Person, advised participants to project the interest and welfare of their communities in their work and not their own parochial interests or considerations. He also charged them to report only the truth and avoid sensationalism, urging them to always verify their stories or sources before airing or publishing them.
During the workshop, participants were trained in news-gathering techniques, news writing or reporting, reporting in the context of violent vigilantism and taken through topics such as “what is Community Journalism, media ethics and safety of the Community Journalism.
Giving an overview of the project, Mr. Mohammed Awal Sumani Bapio, Executive Director of CALID, said since 1992, Ghana has made enviable strides in its democratic journey, including voter education, but expressed worry that this achievement is being threatened due to the activities of party activists, especially the youth, who have taken it upon themselves to determine who occupies some public offices whenever political power changes hands.
He noted that this unfortunate situation usually manifests itself through the seizure of public toilets and snatching of vehicles, etc. from outgoing government officials, lamenting that some of the youth are also recruited into the security agencies with dire implications for the stability of the state.
He explained that under the project, CALID and LYA would work with the youth to curb violent vigilantism especially during elections by educating them to desist from acts such as intimidating voters and snatching of ballot boxes, etc., adding that Peace Committees would also be formed to campaign for peace before, during and after the General Elections.
Earlier, Mr. Abu Inusah, President of LYA who opened the workshop, entreated participants to take their work seriously. He appealed to them to show commitment and sacrifice for the good of their communities in order for the purpose of the project to be achieved.
Source: Francis E. Monnie // Newswatchgh.com
