The Omanhene of Wenchi Nkyiraa, Odeneho Sene-Akofena Tabiri III, has called on journalists to exercise caution in their reporting.
Nana said this in the wake of a reportage by some journalists during the celebrations of 2024 Nkyiraa Yam Festival which tarnished the image of the Nkyiraa and the Bono Regional House of Chiefs.
Addressing the media during the 2024 Benkadi Kurubi Festival, Odeneho Sene-Akofena Tabiri III, urged the public to treat any negative news about Fofie Yam Festival with the contempt it deserves. He also urged Journalist to be cautious of the information they spread on their various media platforms.
Odeneho Sene-Akofena Tabiri III, said, “not long ago we celebrated our Yam Festival which was very successful, a lot of people, chiefs, and dignitaries from all the Bono communities came to grace the occasion.
“The truth is, it always rain whenever we celebrate our Yam Festival, it rains in about 80% to 90% of our grand durbars during the celebrations of our Yam Festival.
“Nana Dormaahene, Osagyefo Agyemang Badu II, who was the Chairperson of the program said a lot of things at the ceremony, he even donated a huge sum of money to help construct some developmental projects at Nkyeraa.
“Representatives of the various Traditional Councils in the Bono, Ahafo and Bono East regions graced the occasion and said a lot of things that will help develop our communities and Ghana at large.
“A lot of journalists came to cover the festival but unfortunately, some journalists decided not to report on any of positive things that happened during the program but they rather reported on negative issues which were not even true.”
He stressed on the importance of avoiding the dissemination of false news, even if it is done in the pursuit of sensationalism. Odeneho Sene-Akofena Tabiri III urged journalists to practice responsible journalism and ensure that the information being reported is accurate and reliable.
“I have realized that journalists have great interest in bad news, they are always looking for sensational stories to get more viewers and listeners and by so doing, they usually report on issues which are not true.
“Some journalists that were present during our yam festival reported on issues which were not true, they are now praying for leniency because we summoned the journalist who spread the fake news.
“I will plead with journalists across the country to be very careful about the things they report, they should be circumspective especially as we approach the December 7th polls.” He said
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com