Assistant Commissioner of Police Owusua Kyeremeh, Director of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, has urged journalists to prioritise children’s rights when reporting cases involving minors.
She said this was necessary to protect children from further victimisation, ridicule, and trauma.
Speaking at a training workshop for journalists on “Best Practices for Ethical Reporting on Children in Vulnerable Situations, including Consent and Confidentiality,” ACP Kyeremeh expressed concerns about exposing children in publications without proper consent, context, or protection.
She said such exposure worsened their situation, with some even dropping out of school. “It has been a matter of concern for us as practitioners in this space working with children,” she noted.
“Most of the time, we realise that journalists, in reporting on children, are either not aware of the rights of the child or simply choose not to pay attention to and respect those rights. As a result, while doing their job, they end up infringing on the rights of children,” she said.
The training, organised by Statements Limited in partnership with Trailblazers, aimed to enhance journalists’ skills to enable them to report with accuracy, sensitivity, and greater awareness.
ACP Kyeremeh urged journalists to use initials instead of publishing children’s names, hide their identities, and prioritise their welfare over the pursuit of sensational news.
“If you are going to write any report involving a child, you must ensure that the child’s best interests are taken into consideration. This should be more important than whatever news you think will help sell your newspaper or attract viewership for your media station,” she emphasised.
ACP Kyeremeh encouraged journalists to familiarise themselves with laws on children’s rights, including the Children’s Act, the DOVVSU Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act.
She referenced Section 3(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act, which states: “A person shall not, in the course of arrest, investigation, or trial of an offence connected to a juvenile or at any other stage of the matter, release any information for publication that may lead to the identification of the juvenile.”
“Anytime you are working on a story, first and foremost, determine the individual’s age—it is very critical. If the person is below 18 years, they are legally a child. This means you are bound by the Juvenile Justice Act, the Domestic Violence Act, and the Children’s Act,” she advised.
Daniel Coffie, a Programmes Officer at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, urged journalists not to ask abused children to recount their trauma repeatedly, as it could worsen their emotional distress.
He stressed the importance of avoiding sensationalism in reporting, advocating instead for a focus on care and protection.
Coffie also called for continued efforts to raise awareness against settling rape and defilement cases out of court, emphasizing that such actions undermine justice.
Madam Edith Vanessa Khartey, a lawyer, urged journalists to conduct thorough investigations into abuse allegations before publishing stories, noting that some children may be coerced into making false accusations.
She advocated for collaboration between the media and civil society to amplify messages on vulnerable children and hold perpetrators accountable.
Michael Mawugbe, Executive Secretary to the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, emphasised professionalism and ethics in media work.
He advised journalists to focus on broader issues affecting children rather than their personal stories.
“Focus on the issue, not the child,” he said.