Minority Caucus Urges Balanced Media Reporting to Rebuild Public Trust in Parliament

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) to ensure fairness, accuracy, and balance in their reportage as part of efforts to bridge the growing trust gap between the legislature and the public.

Addressing a two-day capacity-building workshop for parliamentary correspondents in Accra on Sunday, July 13, the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Hon. Sammy Awuku, delivered a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between the media and Parliament.

He described both institutions as “two critical pillars of Ghana’s democracy” and emphasized that accurate reporting is essential for enhancing transparency, accountability, and public confidence.

“In the eyes of the public, Parliament is sometimes seen as noisy, combative, or unproductive—but everything they see is shaped by what the media reports. The soundbites, the silence, and even the optics in pictures all influence public perception,” he said.

Hon. Awuku noted that while dramatic moments in the chamber tend to dominate headlines, the more substantive work done at the committee level and in constituencies often goes unnoticed.

“Parliament works largely through its committees—policy scrutiny, oversight, and brainstorming happen in hotels, regional offices, and town halls. These deserve attention too,” he added.

He appealed to journalists to highlight bipartisan cooperation, constituency development efforts, and the often-overlooked humanitarian interventions undertaken by Members of Parliament.

“Let’s humanize the work of MPs. Many of us go out of our way to support our communities, and those stories deserve to be told. We must also simplify government policies and help the public better understand parliamentary procedures,” Awuku said, commending the media for their improved reporting on matters such as quorum and legislative processes.

He further acknowledged the growing influence of social media in shaping public opinion and praised the Parliamentary Press Corps for leveraging digital platforms to make complex legislative issues accessible to citizens.

Hon. Awuku proposed a new framework for media–Parliament engagement, including joint training and capacity-building programs to foster mutual learning and professionalism.

“We must create platforms where MPs can learn from the media. Your critiques and grassroots insights are invaluable. An informed public is an empowered one, and together we can close the perception gap,” he noted.

Touching on ethics and access, he urged journalists to respect MPs’ privacy in informal settings while maintaining their responsibility to hold legislators accountable on national matters.

“Not every private conversation should become a headline. Let us balance openness with responsibility. But on issues of national interest, MPs must be ready to engage,” he said.

Hon. Awuku also condemned attacks on journalists and advocated for greater protection of media freedoms, stressing that any attempt to silence the press undermines the country’s democratic values.

Reaffirming the Minority’s commitment to transparency, grassroots engagement, and fair representation, he called on MPs to recommit to their mandate and urged the media to continue reporting in a way that promotes trust and deepens public understanding of parliamentary work.

The workshop, organized by Parliament’s Media Relations Department, sought to deepen media knowledge of legislative procedures and foster stronger collaboration between Parliament and the media in promoting democratic governance.

Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com