The Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Divine Selase Agbeti, has urged journalists to prioritise accuracy over speed when reporting issues relating to national security, communal conflicts and public emergencies.
He said journalists must “verify before amplifying”, warning that unverified information could spread rapidly and create fear, inflame tensions or undermine public confidence.
Mr Agbeti made the call at the closing ceremony of a two-day residential training workshop for members of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) at the Platinum Bay Hotel, Abokobi.
The workshop was held under the theme “Media as a Strategic Partner in National Security.”
According to him, a misleading headline could spread across the country within minutes, while an unverified video could potentially trigger panic or worsen communal tensions.
He therefore encouraged journalists to independently verify security-related information, geolocate material where possible and cross-check reports with credible official and community sources before publication.
Mr Agbeti also cautioned journalists and media organisations against publishing sensitive operational information that could compromise investigations or endanger lives.
He said the public interest should remain the guiding principle of journalism, but cautioned that journalists must avoid disclosing tactical positions, identities of protected persons, sensitive investigative details or information that could assist criminals and hostile actors.
The CSA boss also called for the prompt and visible correction of misinformation.
He said corrections should receive sufficient prominence to reach audiences who may have already seen the original inaccurate report.
“Responsible journalism is demonstrated not by never making a mistake, but by responding transparently when one occurs,” he said.
Mr Agbeti further urged PRINPAG to develop a newsroom protocol specifically addressing national security and cyber incident reporting.
He said such a protocol should protect editorial independence while establishing standards for verification, source protection, handling of sensitive information, corrections and engagement with relevant authorities.
He noted that the true value of the workshop would ultimately be determined by the changes it produced in newsrooms after the programme.
The training formed part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the media and security institutions and equip journalists to navigate Ghana’s increasingly complex information environment.
