By Rachel Kakraba and Abigail Nyahe
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called on journalists to exercise heightened caution in disaster reporting to ensure responsible and accurate information dissemination.
The association emphasised that inaccurate or sensational reporting during disasters could worsen panic, undermine public trust and hamper emergency response efforts. It urged media practitioners to verify information from credible sources before publication.
Rebecca Ekpe, Vice President of the GJA, made this known during a one-day sensitisation workshop for selected journalists in Accra, organised by the Ghana Red Cross Society. She noted the critical role of information flow during times of crisis, warning that unethical reporting could lead to panic and confusion.
“During a disaster, information is like first aid, and as journalists, we need to remember that whatever we give out to the public should be accurate first aid information, not information that will hurt them, but information that will mitigate pain,” she said.
She added that reporting must be guided by empathy and an awareness that “people are hurting, families are involved, and lives need to be saved.”
In a presentation on misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, Madam Ekpe reminded journalists to be mindful of these issues to prevent their unintentional spread, which could undermine response efforts during humanitarian crises.
She further reminded practitioners of their ethical responsibility to protect the dignity of victims and affected communities, while contributing meaningfully to national efforts aimed at managing disasters effectively.
Jeremiah Afako, Head of Programmes and Disaster Manager at the Ghana Red Cross Society, said in an interview that the workshop forms part of a broader plan to strengthen media relations, particularly as the organisation’s work is often misrepresented.
He said the platform would be used to highlight the work of the Ghana Red Cross Society and draw attention to its ongoing humanitarian efforts across the country.
“Going forward, we want to see how we can leverage the media to let the world know what the Ghana Red Cross Society is doing in the country, so that we are not misrepresented,” he said.
Mr Afako also encouraged journalists to limit or avoid the use of “breaking news” in humanitarian reporting, noting that it can agitate the public during times of crisis.
He further took participants through basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other lifesaving first aid skills to equip them to respond to health emergencies.
