The Center for Democratic Development (CDD) has called out the Ghanaian Media to hold politicians accountable for their pledges and utterances as the country gears up for the 2024 election
The Centre entreated the Media to question politicians about their plans to solve the current challenges of besotting the country, instead of the norm that allows the political elites to evade responsibility for their words, actions, and inactions.
The Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Centre, Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante disclosed this to the Media.
“I think that the media has to be bold and courageous to call people out and say what exactly do you want to do to solve the problems and not let people get away with it. To hold people accountable. Because we haven’t really renegotiated our external debts as of now.”
Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asanate
Dr. Asante added that, at this critical moment, the nation cannot be allowed to slide further. He acknowledged that things are tough, if not in a dire state.
He beseeched the Media not to allow itself to be used for mere promotion of campaign messages and slogans without interrogating them.
“So we are really in a bad state and we shouldn’t let it get worse and get drowned in this fanfare of a campaign,” He said.
Dr.Asante further assured the Media of his organization’s willingness to collaborate with the media to ensure its implementation.
The Campaign Messages
Although the Campaign is yet to officially begin, and none of the two leading contenders have published their manifestos, the various candidates utilize any given opportunity and the media to make pronouncements on their policies and intents.
Not very long ago, an independent candidate Nana Kwame Bediako popularly known as Cheddar set the country abuzz with his promise to dredge the sea to Kumasi, a hinterland city for transportation of goods and services.
“I have traveled far and wide. I have seen many countries do that. Even Dubai which was a typical desert now has the sea. That is the kind of vision I have for the Ashanti Region. When we dredge the sea to the region, ships can dock in Kumasi,”
Nana Kwame Bediako
Cheddar’s remarks attracted both praise and rebukes. Meanwhile, the traditional media just like social media was also awash with the discussion on the policy and its feasibility.
Even the leading candidates these days have not escaped the scrutiny and criticism the media spotlight can generate for them. The Vice President recently got his fair share of rebukes over some comments he made about the Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA).
Media and CSO’s
Media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are both critical stakeholders in every democracy. In Ghana, CSOs and the media have served as the vanguards of its much-touted democratic credentials.
It suffice to say then that, CDD’s call to the media to hold politicians accountable is not strange or misguided. CDD is a household name in Ghana in so far as election activities are concerned.
It also enjoys good symbiotic relations with the media in Ghana. In the past, CDD has provided training on various aspects of conducting elections to media houses and personnel.
To this end, for over two decades, CDD has been involved in projects aimed at promoting integrity in public life, such as the Corruption Watch initiative.
The Think Tank work seeks to demand and activate responsiveness and accountability among public officials in Ghana, further emphasizing the importance of media in holding politicians accountable.
This project seeks to demand and activate responsiveness and accountability among public officials, further emphasizing the importance of media in holding politicians accountable.
Overall, CDD’s call to the Ghanaian media to hold politicians accountable forms part of its broader strategy to ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity in the upcoming 2024 election.
The strategy is not just important for the current election, but it is also crucial for the long-term sustainability and stability of Ghana’s democracy.
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