Media urged to provide effective tool for democracy
From William N-lanjerborr Jalulah, Bolgatanga
THE UPPER East Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Peter Hastings Mensah has called on media practitioners to provide effective tool for the unrestricted exercise of freedom of speech to aid the growth of Ghana's democracy.
Addressing journalists in Bolgatanga on Tuesday to launch this year's Constitution Week celebration, the regional Director observed that though the right freedom is provided in Article 21 (1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, the media is charged with the responsibility to hold the government responsible and accountable to the people of Ghana.
Mr. Mensah commended the media for promoting, sustaining and enhancing democracy in Ghana, especially in the 4th Republic, and other key principles of democracy, as enshrined in the Constitution, thereby making the Constitution functional.
He said Ghana's ability to organize five successful elections with peaceful outcomes had won her international recognition as the beacon of democracy in Africa, all due to the vigilance of the media through effective monitoring of election processes particularly on-the-spot reporting of polls.
Having showered these praises on the media for the achievements made, Mr. Mensah said a critical observation of the performance of the media in the 4th Republic of Ghana revealed a growing trend of general professional backsliding - a challenge which if not checked, could potentially unmake everything that the media had made with great effort and sacrifice.
According to him, it was now clear that some media practitioners in Ghana have their perspectives on issues clouded by political partisan tendencies and one only has to examine the reportage or commentary on a particular subject matter to know the political biases of the a media person.
Mr. Mensah stated that the media should be concerned that by their deliberate intention to slant stories and engage in biased reportage for political objective, they gain nothing for themselves of those whose agenda the are executing, but rather polarize the society as is the case in Ghana now.
He referred to Article 164 of the Constitution which places limitation on the freedoms of the media in the interest of national security, public order, public morality, and also to ensure the protection of the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons; and regretted that some practitioners throw caution to the wind and publish sensational stories with the objective to run down opponents without regard to effects of these stories on the state or other persons.
He stressed that 'indeed the consolidation and advancement of Ghana's democracy will imperatively require the professionalism, fairness and objectivity of the media' and appealed to the practitioners to always set agenda for public concretization focusing on environmental sanitation/health, educational matters, responsible parenthood and parenting, progressive cultural practices and other human development issues.
Touching on the week celebration which is under the them; 'The state of Ghana's Democracy, 2011?, Mr. Mensah said all districts and municipalities have their public lecture, school based activities, debates, quizzes, clean-up exercises, sporting activities, radio discussions, with security agencies and durbars with communities.There would also be civic massage that would be delivered to the public through the churches, mosques and other faith based gatherings. The participants took the opportunity to ask questions on the operations of the commission.
THE UPPER East Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Peter Hastings Mensah has called on media practitioners to provide effective tool for the unrestricted exercise of freedom of speech to aid the growth of Ghana's democracy.
Addressing journalists in Bolgatanga on Tuesday to launch this year's Constitution Week celebration, the regional Director observed that though the right freedom is provided in Article 21 (1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, the media is charged with the responsibility to hold the government responsible and accountable to the people of Ghana.
Mr. Mensah commended the media for promoting, sustaining and enhancing democracy in Ghana, especially in the 4th Republic, and other key principles of democracy, as enshrined in the Constitution, thereby making the Constitution functional.
He said Ghana's ability to organize five successful elections with peaceful outcomes had won her international recognition as the beacon of democracy in Africa, all due to the vigilance of the media through effective monitoring of election processes particularly on-the-spot reporting of polls.
Having showered these praises on the media for the achievements made, Mr. Mensah said a critical observation of the performance of the media in the 4th Republic of Ghana revealed a growing trend of general professional backsliding - a challenge which if not checked, could potentially unmake everything that the media had made with great effort and sacrifice.
According to him, it was now clear that some media practitioners in Ghana have their perspectives on issues clouded by political partisan tendencies and one only has to examine the reportage or commentary on a particular subject matter to know the political biases of the a media person.
Mr. Mensah stated that the media should be concerned that by their deliberate intention to slant stories and engage in biased reportage for political objective, they gain nothing for themselves of those whose agenda the are executing, but rather polarize the society as is the case in Ghana now.
He referred to Article 164 of the Constitution which places limitation on the freedoms of the media in the interest of national security, public order, public morality, and also to ensure the protection of the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons; and regretted that some practitioners throw caution to the wind and publish sensational stories with the objective to run down opponents without regard to effects of these stories on the state or other persons.
He stressed that 'indeed the consolidation and advancement of Ghana's democracy will imperatively require the professionalism, fairness and objectivity of the media' and appealed to the practitioners to always set agenda for public concretization focusing on environmental sanitation/health, educational matters, responsible parenthood and parenting, progressive cultural practices and other human development issues.
Touching on the week celebration which is under the them; 'The state of Ghana's Democracy, 2011?, Mr. Mensah said all districts and municipalities have their public lecture, school based activities, debates, quizzes, clean-up exercises, sporting activities, radio discussions, with security agencies and durbars with communities.There would also be civic massage that would be delivered to the public through the churches, mosques and other faith based gatherings. The participants took the opportunity to ask questions on the operations of the commission.
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