Rasheed Inusah, CEO of the Centre for Intelligence and Security Analysis (CISA), has emphasized the need for improved compensation for journalists.
He warned that the meager salaries of media professionals in Ghana pose a significant threat to national security and undermine the integrity of the fourth estate, which is essential for maintaining peace and stability in the country.
Furthermore, he cautioned that a journalist forced to rely on handouts is a ‘ticking time bomb,’ vulnerable to corruption and manipulation, which could compromise the integrity of reporting and undermine the country’s stability.
As such, Inusah stressed that journalists who are poorly compensated are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, as they may become unwitting pawns in the hands of those who offer to alleviate their financial struggles.
This precarious situation, he indicted, renders them susceptible to influence and manipulation, making them easily malleable to the agendas of others.
“This makes them susceptible to corrupt politicians, business people, civil servants, armed robbers, drug lords, land guards, vigilantes, and all manner of people, who take advantage of their poverty for their parochial interests, which often are to the detriment of the national interest.”
Rasheed Inusah
Furthermore, Rasheed Inusah underscored the vital importance of journalists and the media in the national security framework, highlighting their critical role in disseminating accurate and reliable information to the public.
As such, he pointed out that, by providing factual reporting, the media plays a crucial function in informing and educating the population, shaping public opinion, and promoting informed decision-making – all essential components of a secure and stable society.
He warned that this critical responsibility is jeopardized when journalists are poorly compensated, rendering them vulnerable to co-option by powerful individuals or organizations with dubious agendas.
This susceptibility to influence, Rasheed noted, can lead to compromised reporting, manipulated narratives, and ultimately, undermine the integrity of the media’s watchdog role in holding those in power accountable.
He indicated that for instance, poorly paid journalists are vulnerable to co-option by criminal entities like galamsey kingpins, drug lords, and terrorists, who may silence them from exposing harmful activities that threaten national security.
“This is a source of major threat to Ghana’s national security and political stability” – Rasheed Inusah
Journalistic Integrity And National Security
Moreover, Rasheed Inusah emphasized that journalists who compromise their integrity for personal gain are just as dangerous as armed terrorists, as they can wield their pen to spread harmful propaganda, undermine truth, and imperil national security.
As such, he stressed that media outlets must provide their journalists with fair and decent compensation, reducing the vulnerability to financial enticements and upholding the integrity of journalism.
He also appealed to media organizations to prioritize the well-being and welfare of their employees, providing a supportive environment that enables them to perform their duties with professionalism, integrity, and independence.
Furthermore, he warned that journalists aligned with political parties pose a threat to national stability, as they may spread false information to discredit opponents, compromising peace and security.
“They see and hear no evil about their preferred political party and, thus, would defend the indefensible and justify the unjustifiable for that party. At the same time, they would hide or suppress vital information about that party even if such information is in the public interest. Such journalists are also most likely to concoct false stories about the opponents of their preferred party to the detriment of national security and the stability of the state.”
Rasheed Inusah
Mr. Rasheed Inusah emphasized the need for media professionals to uphold the highest standards of journalism, especially during the 2024 general election season, to promote peace, stability, and democratic integrity before, during, and after the elections.
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