NMC urges media to be professional in reporting Supreme Court verdict

Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission, on Monday tasked the media to ensure that their professional ethics reflect in their reportage after the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 Election Petition.

“Your work should be easy but only if you pursue your activities in the coming days and weeks in full respect of and strict abidance by the code of ethics of your profession, the code of conduct of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, and the various guidelines that the National Media Commission has published since 1995 for responsible journalism”, he said.

Mr Blay-Amihere said this when he spoke at a forum organized by the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) on media reportage after the Supreme Court verdict.

The event was on the theme: “Media Responsibility after the Supreme Court Verdict”.

He said the free press, which had been covering the case, would be the medium through which the political parties and the general public would seek to express their reaction to the verdict.

He, however, said for an even greater responsibility, the media need to ensure that their coverage, commentaries and media platforms do not deepen the tension and resultant anger of some parties, who may be naturally aggrieved and bruised by the verdict of the Supreme Court.

He said the call of the hour was duty, and therefore, every institution and all individuals had a role to play in the matter to which the esteemed Judges would give their judgement.

“It is imperative that all Ghanaians, particularly the interest groups in the matter, pledge before the tribune of history to conduct themselves so responsibly in order to consolidate our democracy and also ensure peace and stability in the country”.

He called on the judges, in whose hands lie the destiny of the nation, to have the courage and wisdom to do what would be done without fear or favour.

“Our security agencies would be on test as to how they conduct themselves after a verdict that is bound to generate tension among many. They will ultimately be judged by the fairness and firmness they display which will assure Ghanaians of their independence and loyalty to the rule of law”, he said.

Mr Blay-Amihere also called on both petitioners and respondents to accept the verdict that is bound to bring tears to one party and relief to the other.

Mr Affail Monney, President of the Ghana Journalist Association, said the forum was to respond directly to peace calls on the media at this crucial moment of the country’s history.

He said “as journalists, presenters, and media owners it is important to demonstrably commit yourselves to peace, since peace is a priceless characteristic of any society”.

He said journalists must also tighten their gate-keeping role and sharpen their sense of responsibility to avoid any blood curdling expression or tension laden comments, which can rock the boat, from finding space in the media.

Mr Monney said the pursuit of media freedom without responsibility, especially at the time of the pronouncement of the Supreme Court verdict, would be a dangerous extravagance and at odds with national peace and national security interest.

He said journalists must be prepared to accept full responsibility of what is being published or broadcast and stop blaming politicians as the source of the political toxic materials being disseminated in the media.

Mr Monney urged all journalists, presenters, and media owners not to capitulate to unprofessional, unethical and undemocratic practices in the run-up to and after the Supreme Court verdict.

He also called on them to show respect to the core principles which underpin the profession as well as exemplify a passionate impulse to promote peace.

“We should tilt our headlines, stories, comments and analysis towards conflict prevention”, he said.

Mrs Freda Maame Bartels Mensah, Senior Manager, Ghana Gas Company, said the stability of the country does not depend on what the verdict of the Supreme Court is but on how the media would report it.

She said “in the coming days, weeks and months, Ghana’s health and happiness and the unity it has always enjoyed, sits not on which way the judgment would go, but on what we hear and see on the airwaves”.

Mrs Bartels Mensah said the proliferation of the mass media and the practice of freedom of speech have reached a crescendo and Ghana as a country now stands at a precipice of paralysis.

She, however, noted that journalists were capable of averting any mishap in the country, by eschewing sensationalism in their commentary and reportage.

Source: GNA