News
Protect journalists against COVID-19
The protection of journalists against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is paramount as their work involves frequent interviews with people at all levels while performing their duties.
In this era of COVID-19 the work of journalists has become more challenging and risky; therefore, their safety should not be compromised at all as they can easily contract the virus at the least negligence and later spread it because they leave their homes to report in this difficult circumstances and at the end of the day go back to their families.
Recent photographs captured by the Spectator’s photojournalists showed media persons breaching the COVID-19 protocol on social distancing as they huddled round an interviewee to take photos and record him as duty demands to feed their media houses with the news for public consumption.
In fact, the rate at which the coronavirus is spreading at the community level is so alarming. The current confirmed cases is 22,822 with 17,564 recoveries/discharge and 129 deaths. It should serve as a warning sign for journalists to take their destiny into their own hands and be responsible for their own safety.
In an interview, some of the journalists who spoke to our photojournalist on condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisal from their employers, complained that, “We are going into the field, returning to the office, working and contacting the public in the same way, without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from our employers.”
Another journalist revealed, “I am mentally and conditionally prepared that I am going to get the virus, and I do not feel like I can save myself from this.” According to him, “job security is also another issue affecting the mental health of journalists, many of whom have lost their jobs during the pandemic.”
It is obvious that for fear of losing their jobs these journalists had to sacrifice in such dangerous circumstance to seek information for their media houses at the expense of their health. Reports say that some journalists have already tested positive with the virus and many more are extremely vulnerable because of their daily news coverage.
It behoves on authorities of media houses to provide PPE and the necessary equipment for their media team, especially the camera crew to help them zoom from afar as they must stay safe and healthy to report on issues. Also, journalists with serious health conditions which make them vulnerable must be allowed to work from home.
Meanwhile, journalists must strictly adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols and wear nose or face masks regularly, wash their hands regularly with soap under running water, use alcohol-based sanitisers to clean their microphones, cameras, recorders and all other equipment and also ensure that they abide by all other protocols for their own safety as COVID-19 is no respecter of persons.
Per UNICEF’s safety guidelines for journalists reporting on COVID-19, “if a government spokesperson, senior official or minister is giving a statement, agree among yourselves to record them from at least six feet away and try to stand without huddling.”
The guidelines further says that, “Better still, convince dignitaries to conduct digital press conferences with questions from journalists taken up live as there are plenty of technological platforms available to make this happen”
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) must also ensure that all journalists adhere to the GJA’s guidelines for journalists on COVID-19 precautionary measures when reporting, to ensure that they are protected against the virus as they are daily exposed to all kinds of dangers.
Also, a photojournalist disclosed that despite their “wish to adhere to the precautionary measures, the reality on the field while covering events is different” so the GJA must act promptly to check these realities on the ground and address those issues.
“We always need to get close enough to get good visuals and photographs of both health workers and patients to tell our stories,” the photojournalist added.
The Spectator would like to appreciate the efforts of some individuals and organisations that have so far donated PPE to some media houses to support journalists. We further appeal to other benevolent organisations to donate more PPE to enhance the work of journalists.
Companies that are in the position of donating modern equipment to media houses should not hesitate to do so or sell them at reduced costs in this era of COVID-19 to help the media houses to perform their duties effectively.
The government must also give a special package to journalists who risk their lives to cover assignments on COVID-19 as a form of motivation.
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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