Role of media crucial in Ghana’s ‘reset’ agenda

Ghana’s ‘reset agenda’ is a bold attempt to reboot its democratic systems, tackle corruption and restore trust in public institutions but the heart of this transformation is a powerful actor with the potential to make or break the vision: the media. This is what Akwasi Opong-Fosu, a governance and public policy analyst, believes. He states in a My Joy Online opinion piece that whether traditional or digital, the media is not just a platform for information – it is a force that moulds how people think, what they believe, and how they act, especially regarding leadership and democratic values. ‘But for Ghana’s reset agenda to truly gain traction, the media must rise above partisanship and impunity and fulfill its role as an independent, ethical, and fearless pillar of democratic governance. At its best, the media sets the tone for national discourse. It can normalise values like transparency, integrity, and civic responsibility simply by spotlighting them. It educates the public on democratic processes, breaks down complex policies, and connects people to their rights and responsibilities. Through investigative journalism, it can expose corruption, challenge abusive power, and hold public figures to account.’ Opong-Fosu points out that this power to shape perception is not abstract. ‘How the media frames leadership – who gets coverage, what language is used, what stories are prioritised – directly impacts public behaviour and belief. A media landscape committed to ethical storytelling reinforces positive leadership models and builds a culture where accountability is the standard, not the exception.’

He notes that despite its promise, Ghana’s media ecosystem is deeply fractured. ‘Political polarisation has entrenched media outlets in partisan echo chambers, where the facts are often bent to serve political interests. This undermines trust and fuels public cynicism. Complicity in promoting impunity – whether by ignoring wrongdoing, parroting government narratives, or demonsing dissent – erodes the watchdog role the media is supposed to play.’ He says in the My Joy Online analysis that the consequences are stark. ‘When media platforms become mouthpieces for power instead of its challengers, corruption festers. When journalists abandon critical inquiry in favour of party loyalty, the public loses its most vital tool for holding leaders accountable. Without a reliable media, Ghana’s reset agenda risks becoming just another slogan.’ Opong-Fosu feels that the media shapes more than headlines as it shapes culture. ‘What is normalised in media becomes normalised in society. When the media celebrates integrity, exposes impunity, and centres the voices of everyday citizens, it drives cultural shifts toward democratic accountability. It changes how leadership is understood, how power is questioned, and how people behave in the public square.’ He concludes that Ghana’s reset agenda is a call for a renewed democracy. ‘For that call to be answered, the media must lead – not from behind a curtain of bias, but from the front lines of truth. This isn’t just about better journalism. It’s about reshaping the national imagination around leadership and civic duty. A credible, independent, and principled media is not a luxury – it is the engine of Ghana’s democratic revival.’

My Joy Online analysis