Media Commission urged to check excesses
The Sunyani Municipal Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Akwasi Lampo, has appealed to the National Media Commission (NMC) to check the excesses of the media to maintain peace in the country.
He said the NMC must monitor and regulate, especially programmes of radio stations nationwide to prevent any unguarded statements on sensitive national issues like the election contention at the Supreme Court by political party followers and social commentators.
Mr. Lampo made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday in Sunyani about the efforts of his outfit to prevent disasters in the Municipality and the nation at large.
He said the 2012 Presidential election contention at the Supreme Court was a major concern to NADMO, saying that the organisation expected peace to prevail in the country because “the Cote d’Ivoire’s experience has taught us what election dispute can do”.
The influx of refugees from the Cote d’Ivoire to Ghana due to civil war sparked by their election stalemate greatly affected Ghana economically and socially, the Sunyani Municipal NADMO Coordinator added.
Mr. Lampo said NADMO by its mandate ensured their peaceful settlement in Ghana “but if same should happen to us, the organisation will be unable to play its role because the employees are also Ghanaians who might be affected”.
He said NADMO would always respond to any disaster despite inadequate resources but now one of the major concerns of the organisation was the aftermath of the Supreme Court verdict.
Mr. Lampo, therefore, entreated the NMC to direct radio presenters and political communicators to stop discussing the 2012 Presidential Election court case until the Supreme Court announced the verdict.
He expressed the fear that irrespective of which party the verdict would favour, the continuous discussion of the matter could create misunderstanding that might result into conflict and mayhem among the populace.
Mr. Lampo urged the security agencies to be extra vigilant at the country’s entry points to ward-off insurgents from neighbouring countries.
Source: GNA