Military to forge stronger partnership with media

The military has vowed closer collaboration and stronger partnership with the media to safeguard the peace and security of the country.

Colonel adu Boampong,  General Officer Commanding the  Northern Command, said the journalist was a key stakeholder, who could not simply be ignored in matters regarding the security of the nation.

Their powerful influence on public opinion and perception must neither be under-estimated, nor underrated, and that was why they needed to be engaged to help ensure that the “protection and defense of the sovereignty of Ghana was not undermined”.

Col Adu Boampong was speaking at the launch of an initiative dubbed “Ghana Armed Forces and the Media in Defense of Ghana,” at the Iddris Barracks, the Command’s Headquarters in Kumasi.

It seeks to deepen cooperation, better understanding and collaboration between the two institutions, for the good of the society.

As part of this, the GAF and the Media would be holding joint route marches on the second Friday of December, every year. Added to this, are frequent seminars and security briefings.

There is also a recommendation of a short course on security reportage for both journalists and soldiers at the Kofi Annan Peace-keeping Training Centre.

The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) could also include this in its course content.

The launch brought together journalists in the Kumasi Metropolis, Staff Officers at the Headquarters, and the Four Battalion of Infantry (4BN).

The Commanding Officer said the goal was for a sustainable partnership that “will inure to the benefit of the country”.

The Command Operations Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Edukwesi Woanya, said it was important to draw lessons from the unimaginable destruction suffered by countries like Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra Leone to avoid pitfalls.

“It is the duty of each and every one of us to help protect the peace and stability Ghana is enjoying.

Source: GNA