Setting the agenda for Election 2016
A former President of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson, once made a statement that is profound when it comes to the indispensability of the media.
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He said: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
This statement by Jefferson underscores the crucial role that the media play in national development and for that matter the deepening of democratic governance.
The media have often played a significant role in shaping the national discourse and development, for which reason they are referred to as “the Fourth Estate of the Realm”, coming in line after the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature.
The importance of the media in a representative democracy is essentially to educate and inform the citizenry and also serve as a feedback loop between the government and the people.
To be able to carry out this mandate effectively, the media must flawlessly play their role of gate-keeping and agenda-setting in order to safeguard the governance system against any action, interest or decision that will serve to detract from the course of national unity, progress and development.
That is to say the media must always use sound judgement to ensure that the contents they put out there will always inure to the benefit of society and not impact negatively.
What this means is that we must always make a determination regarding what national issues Ghanaians must prioritise when they wake up every morning and go through the day.
Regrettably, there have been times when the media have chosen to dwell on the superficial, to the neglect of matters of national importance.
Once again, we find ourselves in an election year and the responsibility that lies on the shoulders of the media cannot be underestimated.
Our democracy can thrive and, indeed, progress when the media are able to play their roles effectively in informing and educating the public on issues that border on national development, with the aim of ensuring improved living standards for the people.
The Daily Graphic wishes to call on the media to remain conscious of this fact as the election approaches, so that no politician can hold the nation to ransom, no matter what the case may be.
We owe it a duty to the people to set the agenda for the nation. This means that we must bring the issues to the electorate in order to have an enlightened group of voters who can make informed decisions.
This means the need for us, as media, to focus on issues during the campaign period has become paramount now more than ever.
To be able to effectively discharge this duty, there is the need to place the national interest above all partisan and sectoral considerations.
Our foremost commitment should be towards ensuring that the peace, unity, stability and development of our dear country override all other considerations. That way, we will succeed in upholding the responsibility and accountability of the government and those who seek public office to govern the people of Ghana.