Deputy Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), Stephen Odoi-Larbi, has stressed the critical role of the media in Ghana’s democratic process and the importance of constant training of journalists.
The role of the media in the seamless functioning of the legislative arm of government, he said, cannot therefore be overemphasized.
Delivering a closing remark in the stead of the Dean, Simon Againab, at an orientation workshop on the revised Standing Orders of Parliament designed for members of the PPC on Saturday, the Deputy Dean stressed that the training is a testament to Parliament’s commitment to ensuring Ghana’s democracy is on a sound footing.
He spoke on behalf of the
The workshop, which Parliament organized, provided an invaluable opportunity for members of the Press Corps to gain in-depth knowledge of the revised Standing Orders, which was updated to address challenges arising from the hung parliament and to streamline parliamentary practices and procedures.
Mr. Odoi-Larbi commended Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin for his dedication to empowering the Press Corps through continuous capacity-building initiatives.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Speaker and the Clerk of Parliament for their support and called for more such workshops in the future.
“We are very grateful for this opportunity and we owe you a lot of gratitude for giving us reasons to believe in the importance of our work. We appeal for more of such capacity-building workshops,” he added.
According to him, feedback from the session indicated that there was a need for journalists to familiarize themselves with the new Standing Orders further to improve reportage and commentary on parliamentary issues.
He urged his colleagues to take the lessons learned seriously and to reflect on the knowledge gained in their reporting.
The successful completion of the workshop is expected to lead to enhanced legislative reporting, ultimately contributing to a more informed public and a stronger democracy.
The Deputy Dean urged colleagues, emphasizing the mutual benefits of such educational endeavors for both the press corps and the parliamentary institution, and added, “When we succeed, Parliament as an institution will be a better place, convincing more investment in our development as media professionals.”