He said migration and the free movement of persons were central pillars of regional integration in West Africa, and therefore required accurate reporting to promote growth and development across the sub-region. 

Mr Dodoo made the call at a day’s training workshop in Takoradi for selected journalists, reporters, bloggers, communications officers and other media practitioners in the Western Region on digital content creation and mini?video blogging on free movement and migration in West Africa. 

The workshop was organised under the FMM West Africa II Project titled “Reframing Narratives on Free Movement and Migration in West Africa”, and implemented by Media Response with support from FMM West Africa. 

The project is jointly funded by the European Union and the ECOWAS Commission. 

The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of participants to utilise mini?video blogging tools and social media platforms to promote informed public discourse on migration and regional integration. 

Mr Dodoo noted that the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Establishment provided the legal framework for facilitating cross?border mobility, economic cooperation and regional solidarity among Member States. 

Despite these frameworks, he said, public discourse on migration was often shaped by misinformation, sensationalism, stereotypes and limited understanding of migration governance systems. 

He therefore urged media practitioners to produce accurate and evidence?based content to help foster balanced discussions and enhance regional integration within ECOWAS. 

“The role of the media cannot be overstated, and we must always ensure accuracy, avoid sensationalism and uphold the principles of professionalism in reporting on free movement and migration to change the narrative,” he said. 

Mr Desmond Cudjoe, Western Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), on his part, encouraged participants to adhere to professional ethics when reporting on free movement and migration to help sustain cooperation among ECOWAS Member States.