Information Minister, Fatimatu Abubakar, has issued a stern reminder to the media to meticulously verify all information before publication, warning that failure to do so could lead to national chaos and embarrassment.
Her caution comes in the wake of a recent incident involving a Ghanaian chef who falsely claimed recognition by Guinness World Records for a cook-a-thon, an assertion that was widely reported by major media outlets without proper verification.
Madam Abubakar described the false reporting as a national embarrassment that must not be repeated.
She emphasized the potential dangers of such inaccuracies, particularly if they were to occur within the political sphere, especially concerning election-related matters.
“The media has the responsibility to verify every information before publication … It’s dangerous to spread falsehood because it could lead us into chaos.”
Fatimatu Abubakar
Reflecting on the incident involving Chef Smith, who organized a press briefing to declare himself the record-holder for a cook-a-thon, the Minister highlighted the critical role of the media in ensuring the accuracy of information disseminated to the public.
She underscored the possible consequences of spreading unverified information, which could create serious conflicts or chaos, especially in politically sensitive situations.
In a bid to decentralize government communication and keep citizens informed about governmental projects, Madam Abubakar announced that her Ministry would soon launch a series of regional town hall meetings and exhibitions across the country.
Scheduled to commence at the end of July, these events aim to enhance transparency and accountability regarding government initiatives.
The town hall meetings will feature regional and sector ministers, along with key government appointees, who will answer questions from journalists and community members about various government projects.
Topics will include infrastructure developments in roads, health, education, water, and sanitation, as well as other local issues of concern.
Madam Abubakar expressed confidence that these regional meetings and exhibitions would facilitate better communication between the government and the populace, allowing for direct feedback and fostering greater transparency regarding government projects.
GH Mouthpiece Urges Ghanaians to Stop Chastising Chef Smith
Ghanaian socialite, Adwoa Asuama, also known as GH Mouthpiece, called on Ghanaians to back off chastising disgraced Chef Smith.
According to GH Mouthpiece, Ghanaians should cut the chef some slack because there are politicians and many others who commit worse crimes than he did.
In a video published on Instagram, GH Mouthpiece explained that the only institution directly affected by the Chef Smith Guinness Cook-a-thon scam is his sponsors, the owners of the Amadia Shopping Centre.
“We are in this country, and have our politicians not defrauded us more than Chef Smith? To be honest, in the case of Chef Smith, financially and resource-wise, it is the Amadia Shopping Centre that has been affected. For us, we were just praying for him, but politicians have defrauded us more than this guy you are all bashing.
“They lied to get our votes and wasted our resources, time, and taxes. They drive luxurious cars and much more. Who has defrauded Ghanaians more than our politicians? What have we done about it? Cut Chef Smith some slack.”
GH Mouthpiece
She urged Ghanaians to direct their anger towards politicians who defraud them of state resources and siphon state funds to sponsor their extravagant lifestyles.
Also, Ola Michael blamed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for Chef Smith’s deception.
He argued that only severe hardship could drive a man to scheme and plan such a national deception.
“This is a significant issue. For someone to sit and devise such a grand deception scheme is concerning, but you cannot blame him. I blame Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia. I am not glorifying what he did, and this is just my opinion. I understand that due to the hardship in the system, many people have turned to scamming, which is not ideal.
“If there were jobs available in this country for people like Chef Smith, would he have deceived all of us? Would he have printed a fake certificate? No, he is seeking validation.”
Ola Michael
Ola Michael further mentioned that he is contemplating getting involved in a grand deception to make some gains for himself.
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