The Media Relations Department of the Parliamentary Service is holding a two-day training and capacity-building workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) in Accra.
Below is the full statement delivered by the Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps at the workshop:
STATEMENT BY THE DEAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY PRESS CORPS
Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business,
Minority Leader,
Clerk to Parliament,
Coordinator, Public Affairs,
Director, Media Relations,
Fellow Journalists,
It is a pleasure to address this workshop dedicated to strengthening the capacity of journalists who cover Parliament.
Parliament plays a central role in Ghana’s democratic governance through lawmaking, oversight and representation. Parliamentary journalism therefore goes beyond reporting speeches and political disagreements; it requires constitutional knowledge, professional competence, accuracy and a commitment to keeping the public informed about decisions that affect their lives.
An important responsibility of parliamentary journalists is to understand the privileges and immunities of Parliament, as provided for under Articles 115 and 116 of the 1992 Constitution. These provisions protect freedom of speech and debate in parliamentary proceedings and safeguard the independence of Members of Parliament in performing their constitutional duties. Journalists must report proceedings accurately and fairly, distinguish parliamentary statements from independently established facts, and understand that these protections do not automatically exempt every publication outside Parliament from applicable legal and ethical obligations.
Professionalism also requires knowledge of parliamentary procedures, respect for institutional rules and the ability to distinguish bills from Acts, committee recommendations from decisions of the House, and political claims from verified facts.
The growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities for parliamentary reporting. AI tools can assist journalists in transcribing debates, summarising lengthy reports, analysing budgets and researching legislation. However, these tools must support rather than replace professional judgement.
Journalists must verify AI-generated information against reliable sources, protect confidential information and avoid publishing fabricated quotations or misleading content.
At the same time, ethical journalism must remain central to the profession. Although financial pressures, inadequate remuneration and competition for audiences can be challenging, they must not justify bribery, sensationalism, misinformation or compromised editorial independence. Media organisations also have a responsibility to provide fair working conditions and protect journalists from improper commercial and political influence.
The Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) provides an important legal framework for accessing information held by public institutions and other bodies covered by the law, subject to applicable exemptions and procedures. Journalists should use this framework to obtain relevant public records, investigate government expenditure, scrutinise policy implementation and strengthen evidence-based reporting. They must understand how to submit information requests and pursue the appropriate review or appeal procedures where necessary.
Parliamentary correspondents should also familiarise themselves with the Standing Orders of Parliament, legislative procedures, committee work, motions, amendments, voting processes and the respective roles of the Speaker and parliamentary leadership. They must comply with applicable accreditation and access requirements while maintaining their independence to scrutinise parliamentary activities.
In conclusion, the quality of parliamentary journalism depends on a combination of constitutional awareness, professional discipline, ethical integrity, technological competence and access to reliable information.
Journalists must be courageous enough to question authority, independent enough to resist improper inducements and knowledgeable enough to explain parliamentary decisions accurately.
Parliament, in turn, should recognise the media’s legitimate role in promoting transparency and accountability.
As we deliberate at this workshop, let us renew our commitment to responsible reporting, continuous professional development and the public interest.
The credibility of parliamentary journalism rests not only on the information we obtain, but also on the integrity with which we verify, interpret and communicate it.
Thank you.
