Responsible Journalism - A Key To Ghana's Peaceful Election

Charles Kwasi Marfo

The Media is consider as the forth Arm of Government in a democratic State. The role the media plays toward the progress and retrogression of the state can't be underestimate. The media be it electronic or printed has its own way of influencing the society.

In most third world countries where education is less rated, most people especially the rural folds holds the media in high esteem hence whatever they hear from the media is taken as the Gospel truth.

Journalism is the work and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree.

Journalist is a person who collects, writes or distributes news or other current information. There cannot be the media without journalist and there cannot be a journalist without the media.

Chapter 12 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana guarantees Freedom of the Press and independence of the media. The media in Ghana has gone through series of metamorphosing phases. However, in 2011, the Freedom House ranked the media in Ghana as "Free".

Historically, the media in the Gold Coast first emerged in the 19th century with the publication of the Gold Coast Gazette and Commercial Intelligencer in 1822. The paper had several functions; to provide information for civil servants and European Merchants; and to help promote literacy rates and rural development among the local population - while encouraging unity with the Gold Coast government.

In 1935, the Colonial Governor Sir Arnold Hadson introduced the first radio channel named Radio ZOY.

In the aftermath if independence, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah eventually controlled all the press in Ghana and saw it as an instrument of State authority. The media in Ghana had changed operations from civilian to military government and series of arrest have been ushered on many media personalities especially critics of the government. Ace journalist Kwaku Baako and Kwasi Pratt have all suffered arrest in the course of their duties while some media houses faced closure. For instance, the Ashanti Pioneer which operated since 1930s was shut down by Nkrumah after being subject to censorship. Dr. K. A. Busia's government repealed various acts and dismissed the owner of the state owned Daily Graphic for opposing his administration.

Gen. I. K. Acheampong reinstated strict media control and clamped down opposition outlets. This was among the reasons that led to the formation of the PMFJ to stand against his UNIGOV government. Gen. F. W. K. Akuffo's regime reversed some of his predecessors media policies and released jailed journalists. This led to the establishment of two party papers namely "The Star" by the Peoples Front Party and "The Gong Gong" by the Peoples National Party. Dr.
Hilla Limann's government advocated for Liberal Media Reforms hence establishing a 12-member Press Commission on 25th July 1980. Rawlings PNDC government passed laws that prevented criticisms of government policies, dismissed editors critical of him and passed various laws such as Preventive Custody Law and Newspaper Licensing Law which allowed indefinite detention without trial of journalists and stifled private media

From 1992 when the forth Republican constitution came into being, President Rawlings repealed and pledged to Press Freedom. However, the media did not enjoyed absolute freedom in practicality. In 2001 when Kuffour's NPP government came into power, the tension between private media and the government decreased. Kuffour's government was in support of absolute Press Freedom and repealed the Criminal Libel Law - an initiative championed by Nana Akufo-Addo - the then Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

Subsequent governments have done well with media freedom however, there have been some challenges. Some journalists, broadcasters, social as well as political commentators have taken advantage of the freedom of the press blend with Freedom of Speech to abuse and taint the image of the media in Ghana.

Unworthy comments as well as media misreportage have the tendency of ruining the peace we are praying for in the coming election. Some media broadcasters and journalists have allowed themselves to be bought by some politicians to pursue their diabolic course. Listening to some media stations and their programmes in Ghana is very unpleasant for the profession. Some media stations (Fm stations, TV stations and Newspapers) have been set up in Ghana for political expediency.

These media houses uses vulgar languages, propaganda as well as image and character assassination in pursuance of their course. These acts are unpleasant and it brings nothing good to the media credibility other than shame. A clear case is the case involving the Montie trio (M3) who threatened
the live of the Chief Justice which eventually ended them in Nsawam Prison.

The Media Commission must fasten it belt to ensure sanity and decorum in the airwaves before, during and after the election. The Commission should as well take bold steps to sanction to punish media houses and media men who goes contrary to the ethics of the commission. The Ghana Journalist Association also has a key role to play towards ensuring peace before, during and after the election. The GJA must sanction whoever goes contrary to its code of conduct. Both GJA and GMC must must apply their principles without fear or favour and must punish the recalcitrants.

While some media broadcasters and journalists have gained ugly face for the media, others have also done well and they must be commended for their works. To mention few; Kwaku Baako, Kwame Sefa Kai, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Manasseh Azuri Awuni, Kwabena Yeboah, and among other few. They must be commended for executing the media work with diligence.