The media has been urged to play a critical role in educating citizens on the technical aspects of Ghana’s constitutional reform process by presenting the issues in simple and understandable language.
According to Madam Osei-Boateng, the constitutional review process is ultimately about citizens, making it important for the public to have sufficient information and meaningful opportunities to contribute to the outcome.
She said accurate and well-informed media coverage could also help generate public pressure on political leaders to pursue reforms that adequately reflected citizens’ concerns.
The comments were made during a two-day media engagement on constitutional reforms and other national issues.
The Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reforms is convened by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), STAR-Ghana Foundation and Democracy Hub, with funding support from the British High Commission.
Meanwhile, Founder of the Right and Responsibility Initiative Ghana (RRIG), Aba Oppong, has called for stronger community engagement in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
She noted that the government continues to face challenges in addressing the illegal mining menace and stressed the need to empower people in affected communities with adequate information about its environmental and social consequences.
According to her, communities must understand both the impact of illegal mining and the role they can play in efforts to address the problem.
Government measures to tackle illegal mining have included law-enforcement operations, reclamation of degraded lands and the promotion of alternative livelihood opportunities.
The two day engagement provided journalists with an opportunity to examine constitutional reform proposals and discuss the media’s role in public education, accountability and national development, including efforts to address illegal mining.
