A former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has cautioned media practitioners to be circumspect in their reportage about the economy in order not to create doubts in the minds of investors.
According to him, focusing on the challenges consistently without placing the spotlight on the positives could scare potential investors away at the expense of economic growth where jobs could also be created.
He said much as there was a need to adequately report on the economic developments in the country through an independent lens, there should be a balance.
Mr Kufuor also stated that news reportage should be devoid of sensationalism which might cause capital flight just because investors were not comfortable.
Addressing the executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) who paid a courtesy call on him at his home at Peduase in the Eastern Region, he said the media must allow the people to individually judge and assess the performance of the government without any undue negative influence.
The former President, who also served a full two-term in office from January 2001 to January 2009, said his advice was not to push the media to be silent on critical national issues but to enable them to appreciate the key roles they played in shaping the economic discourse and calming nerves during periods of hardship and uncertainties.
He said the wealth and growth of a country were highly dependent on both local and international investments, thus, in a situation where information from the media put the investors in doubt, they might look elsewhere to invest their monies which in turn would deepen the rife of unemployment in the country.
“So if the association is thinking of helping to put the economy back on the positive trajectory, I will entreat you and your association to use balance so investors will not lose hope and confidence,“ he added.
Visit
The delegation was led by the President of the GJA, Albert Dwumfuor, and included the Vice-President of the association, Linda Asante Agyei; the General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah, and the National Organising Secretary, Dominic Hlordzi.
The rest were the Public Affairs Officer of the GJA, Rebecca Ekpe; the National Treasurer, Audrey Dekalu, and the Chairman of the Greater Accra Chapter, Charles Benoni Okine, who is also the acting Editor of the Graphic Business.
The visit was to introduce the new GJA leadership to the former President and discuss matters of mutual interest with him.
Rationale
The GJA President said the visit was also to interact with the former President, as well as seek his blessings and guidance in their work.
“We are here to meet you as a patron, reiterate our commitment to you for your love for the media and also associate ourselves with you in your quest to ensure a responsible media in the country,” he said.
Mr Dwumfuor used the opportunity to formally invite the former President to the 26th Annual GJA Awards slated for November 12, this year.