Media and Civil Society Must Be Watchdogs, Not Just Reporters – Dr. Ofori Mensah
Dr. Ofori Mensah outlines six critical roles for journalists and civil society in strengthening defence accountability and democratic oversight.
- Media and CSOs urged to champion defence accountability
- Six roles outlined to strengthen security oversight
- Public trust grows through transparency and dialogue
Dr. Michael Ofori Mensah has called on the media and civil society organisations to take a more active role in promoting transparency and accountability within Ghana’s defence and security sector.
Speaking at the Media Training on Defence Integrity in Kumasi, Dr. Ofori Mensah outlined six key roles that civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media must play to strengthen democratic oversight of the security sector.
The Six Key Roles
1. Advocacy
Dr. Ofori Mensah said the media and CSOs must “bring issues and challenges to the attention of the wider public” and “influence policies and practices that affect people’s lives.”
He said this includes advocating for improved welfare for soldiers, transparent procurement processes and respect for human rights.
2. Facilitation
Dr. Ofori Mensah noted that CSOs and the media should “serve as catalysts and intermediaries” by building capacity and promoting dialogue among government, security agencies and communities.
“Without dialogue, suspicion grows. With dialogue, trust is built,” he said.
3. Expertise
He urged journalists and CSOs to “serve as translators of knowledge” and “maintain a strong grasp of global governance structures and funding mechanisms.”
This, he said, would help them interpret complex defence budgets and policies for ordinary Ghanaians.
4. Implementation
Beyond reporting, Dr. Ofori Mensah said CSOs can contribute through “training, awareness creation, facilitation, monitoring and the provision of services” such as disaster management and community safety programmes.
5. Monitoring
He described CSOs as watchdogs that must “hold institutions accountable and promote transparency and accountability.”
“Just because it’s the military doesn’t mean it should be above scrutiny. Public funds are involved,” he stated.
6. Consultation
Dr. Ofori Mensah said the media and civil society must provide “practical and tangible inputs into policymaking processes” and identify critical issues requiring attention before they develop into national crises.
Why It Matters for Defence
Dr. Ofori Mensah emphasised that in a democracy, national security cannot be left to security agencies alone.
“When civil society and the media are active, corruption is reduced, public trust increases, and security becomes everybody’s business,” he told participants in Kumasi.
The training was organised to equip journalists in the Ashanti Region with the knowledge and skills needed to report responsibly on defence and security issues without compromising national security.
