Deputy Government Spokesperson Shamima Muslim and National Security Coordinator COP Osman Abdul-Razak have called for a stronger partnership between the media, government and security agencies to protect Ghana’s information space while preserving editorial independence.
They made the call at the PRINPAG Capacity Building Workshop on Responsive National Security Reporting in Accra, where they urged journalists to adapt to the changing media environment and uphold accuracy, objectivity and professional responsibility.
Ms Shamima Muslim said Ghana’s print media industry was facing serious economic challenges, with newspaper sales reportedly falling from about 100,000 copies daily in 2005 to a fraction of that figure today.
She said the situation required the industry to evolve beyond the traditional newspaper model and become a broader knowledge partner in national development.
“Print is record, not just paper. If print loses relevance we will lose our national memory. Print must not die, it must evolve,” she said.
Ms Shamima Muslim proposed the establishment of a secure verification hotline linking PRINPAG leadership, the National Security Secretariat and her office to facilitate rapid fact-checking during security incidents.
She stressed that the proposed mechanism would not amount to censorship but would help journalists obtain accurate information before publication.
“The Resetting Ghana agenda does not ask the media to protect government from criticism. We ask all of us to protect Ghana from falsehood, from division and from insecurity,” she said.
COP Abdul-Razak, meanwhile, described the information environment as an important component of Ghana’s national security perimeter.
He cautioned journalists against irresponsible reporting that could deepen ethnic, religious or political grievances and create opportunities for extremist groups to exploit public discontent.
“You must be very careful. The terrorist is looking for somebody to align with. He tells you you are not being treated fairly,” he warned.
The National Security Coordinator said journalists also serve as a source of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) for security agencies, making accuracy and objectivity particularly important.
He cautioned against turning journalism into partisan advocacy, warning: “Don’t transform the press into a mercenary press.”
He cited the role of irresponsible media during the Rwandan genocide as a reminder of the destructive consequences of weaponising information.
COP Abdul-Razak also announced plans to establish a structured dialogue channel between security services and newsrooms and collaborate with PRINPAG on guidelines for national security reporting.
The workshop was organised by PRINPAG in collaboration with the National Security Secretariat and brought together media owners, editors, senior journalists and security experts.
