Exclusives and being the first to report the news are key motivations for every reporter or journalist. But in pursuing this, one guiding principle in the media profession must never be ignored: check, cross-check, and re-check before you publish.
Unfortunately, some reporters ignore this golden rule and create their own—“views and followers”—which in the past was known as sensationalism. These so-called reporters may achieve temporary attention, but eventually, they lose their credibility. The unfortunate reality is that many of them are not trained journalists or have never received any form of media education, so they simply do not understand the weight of the principles they break.
In their rush to “break the news,” they end up breaking the very lives and properties journalists are duty-bound to protect by creating unnecessary tension. What they also fail to realize is that they are breaking their own credibility in the process. Misinformation and misrepresentation of facts become their daily trade. Yet when the state intervenes to protect the public—through civil or criminal libel laws—they quickly politicize the issue. But really, what is political about holding irresponsible reporters accountable? Perhaps their ignorance prevents them from understanding the old saying: “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Having practised journalism in the Ashanti Region for nearly two decades, I have encountered many of these so-called reporters—some of whom cannot even spell their own names but, thanks to radio, can give live reports. These are the very individuals who often create problems for the rest of us.
I recount an incident years ago on a trip from Kumasi to Obuasi with one such individual. Just before we reached Akrokerri Junction, he received a call that a motor accident had occurred on the Kumasi–Cape Coast stretch, between Fumso and New Edubiase. He quickly got down at Kwapia. Before we even reached Kunka Junction, he was live on a Kumasi-based radio station claiming he was at the accident scene, reporting that over 15 people had died and calling on the Ghana Police Service, ambulance, and fire service to rush to the scene.
Anyone who knows the geography knows it was impossible for him to be anywhere near the accident site at that time. Women on our bus, believing the false report, started crying and cursing the government over bad roads. It later emerged that although an accident had occurred, no casualties were recorded. This happened in 2010.
Another example occurred in 2009 when I worked with the Amansie Central District Assembly. I was with the then District Chief Executive, Hon. Robert Bennett Forkuo, when he received multiple calls urging him to tune in to a Kumasi-based station. A reporter was announcing that he was at Afoako D/A Basic School, claiming that two school-feeding caterers were fighting, several pupils had been injured, and two were in critical condition. He even called for police—and military—intervention.
We were alarmed and contacted the police in Jacobu. They arrived at the alleged scene before us. But to our shock, everything at the school was normal. Teachers, the headteacher, and caterers were surprised by the claims because nothing whatsoever had happened.
I could narrate countless such cases, but let me conclude with one that occurred over the weekend in Obuasi. This happened at the funeral of the late mother of the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Faustilove Appiah-Kannin. Two irresponsible and unpatriotic reporters from Kumasi were present at the funeral but not close to the incident that later made headlines.
They falsely reported an “assassination attempt.” Assassination attempt? These individuals must be extremely ignorant. I am not a security expert, but anyone who understands journalism knows such a claim is extremely serious. From the police report and my own eyewitness account, nothing close to an assassination attempt occurred. Claiming so is like saying my late grandmother was a virgin at age 80.
So what actually happened?
It was the usual ceremonial gun firing that takes place during the arrival of chiefs at funerals. When the Dompoasehene, Nana Okofo Kwabena Bonsu II, arrived, a member of the Kwaman Kesse Chief’s entourage attempted to give a ceremonial gun salute. The musket misfired accidentally, and the gunpowder hit the Chief. He was quickly rushed to the hospital, treated, and discharged that evening. His subjects, shocked by the incident, confronted the gun handler, who was visibly distraught. Security personnel rescued him and sent him to the Obuasi Central Police Station.
The funeral continued smoothly and was not disrupted in the dramatic manner reported by these two individuals.
Later that day, I hosted some media personnel at the AGA School’s Assembly Hall for refreshment. It was there that one of the irresponsible reporters whispered to another: “Let’s make views and a big story from the incident and get our names out.” One colleague scolded him, and he apologized, pretending he would drop the idea. But he later teamed up with another person and went ahead to fabricate the sensational story.
For nearly five hours on the night of Saturday, 29th November 2025, their false report spread across Ghana and beyond, misleading even reputable media houses like Media General. Obuasi once again made headlines for the wrong reasons.
And what did they gain?
Temporary views and followers.
And what did they lose?
Integrity, credibility, and dignity.
If anything was attempted that night, it was an attempted assassination on the image of Obuasi—by these unpatriotic, view-hungry individuals. Thankfully, truth has prevailed, and Obuasi has survived their reckless attack.
Long live Nana Okofo Kwabena Bonsu II.
Long live Obuasi.
Long live our homeland Ghana.