Desist from using abusive language – IGP

Mr John Kudalor, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has called on the media not to allow panellists and radio phone-in callers to use abusive languages on their platform.

Mr Kudalor said the media’s role was equally crucial in ensuring a fair and peaceful Election 2016 thus, the media, both local and international, should position themselves as neutral arbiters, provide relevant public education, and avoid hate and violence-inducing publications and broadcast.

The IGP made the call at a stakeholder engagement with the media in Accra on the theme: “Safeguarding our Democracy – The Role of the Media in Peaceful Elections”.

The stakeholder engagement is a platform created by the IGP to engage with the media, political parties, security agencies, the Electoral Commission, the Peace Council, Civil Society Organisations, the clergy and traditional authorities to discuss ways of ensuring a peaceful election.

Mr Kudalor said the Ghana Police Service deemed it expedient to factor in other stakeholders to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

“It is in this vein that the media, very prominent players in the process, have been invited here to help chart a peaceful course to the elections,” he said.

He said the role of the mass media was, perhaps, the most crucial of all, especially in this era when any piece of information, whether positive or detrimental, could be disseminated to all corners of the world at the snap of the fingers.

He said the situation was even dire as many of the media outlets were owned by political functionaries who use them to pursue their own political aspirations and agenda.

“It is against this back-drop that you will be required to put the interest of the nation first in your reportage on the election. Your expertise and professionalism will be called into action so avoid churning out any media product that could cause public disorder,” Mr Kudalor said.

He urged all to continue to make Ghana a peaceful country and set up as a glowing example on the African Continent.

Source: GNA