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The Central Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr. Moses Ninson, has charged the Ghanaian media to be circumspect when reporting on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases.

He said the unnecessary embellishment of such news stories by some media houses, often created problems, made victims more traumatized and at times, made them lose interest in seeking justice or assisting investigation. “

“Your reportage must be factual and accurate. The identity of the victim must always be protected. Facts of the case, devoid of unnecessary embellishment, should be stated as it is all the time."

DCOP Mr. Ninson, was speaking at a sensitization workshop organised by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) for more than 20 media selected practitioners in the Region in Cape Coast on Wednesday.

The workshop dubbed “Upholding journalism best practices in the reportage of Sexual and Gender Based Violence" was sponsored by the United Nations Population (UNFPA) with support from the Central Regional Coordinating Council.

Participants were taken through topics such as "Sexual, Gender Based Violence; causes, effects and way forward, Commentary on Domestic Violence Act of Ghana" and "Upholding best practices in reporting SGBV/DV cases."

DCOP Ninson said an instance of the effect of embellishing SGBV Cases was the alleged rape case of Kwesi Kyei Darkwa (KKD), a renowned media icon, whose 19-year old victim withdrew the case citing the "media frenzy” following the arrest of KKD, among other reasons.                                      

He said collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and the media had helped to ensure public order and called for a stronger partnership through guarded reportage in order to prevent SGBV cases which were on the increase in the country.

“I am optimistic that with regular, targeted and timely publication on Sexual and Gender Based Violence including domestic violence cases, we would succeed in reducing the canker tremendously,” he said.

The Central Regional Co-ordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) George Appiah-Sakyi, said the workshop was part of a strategic plan to reduce SGBV cases.

He said by empower the media it was expected that interest of media practitioners would be  whipped up to increase reportage on SGBV cases and help the DOVVSU achieve its aim of reducing such cases.

Nana Ama Amissah III, Queen mother of Mankessim Traditional Area, who presided over the function, expressed worry over the increasing rate of SGBV cases in the Region and also over the manner the media handled reports on them.

She urged media practitioners to uphold best journalistic practices, investigate well before publishing such stories and also advised the general public not to cover such cases but let the law deal with offenders.

The out-going Central Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Ms. Paulina Tangoba Abagaye, condemned SGBV and stressed on the need for society and the media to play their respective roles in protecting citizens.

The Central Regional Chairperson of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) Mrs. Alice Tettey described the current era in journalism as ethics deficiency quagmire and condemned the level of serious ethical violations that had invaded the media landscape.

Mrs. Tettey who is also the Central Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency urged media personnel to uphold best practices , tell the truth, minimize harm, stay independent and be accountable.

"We have the responsibility to protect the vulnerable in society and not to expose them to harm.  It is our duty to be a voice for the voiceless and play our gate-keeping role to engender national cohesion and foster unity at all times," she said.