Comments on Joy FM sage is unfortunate - Akologu

Accra, July 22, GNA - The Ministry of Information has described as "unfortunate" statements attributed to the Ghana Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-Ghana), National Media Commission (NMC), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and others about the caution statement taken from the management of Joy FM over the publication of alleged death threats.

A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr. John Tia Akologu said the Ministry had also noted the deliberate attempt by management of Joy FM to continue the peddling of falsehood in this matter by claiming in its news broadcasts that its news editor had been charged for refusing to disclose his source of information for the death threats Joy FM claimed were received by some executives of Ghana Real Estates Developers Association (GREDA).

"The police according to reports monitored by the Ministry has explained extensively that its discussions with management of Joy FM have related only to knowing the persons who are being threatened with death in order to give them protection, and nothing else".

"This case is not about the disclosure or protection of a source. It is about management of JoyFM claiming that some members of GREDA have received death threats", it added.

The statement noted that it would be important for persons commenting and accusing government of attempts to truncate press freedom in the country to educate themselves on and about the issues at stake, understand the position of the police and the legal limits to press freedom.

Mr. Akologu said while government was not interested in criminalising speech and or sending any journalist to court, government also believed that journalists and the media as a whole had a responsibility to be objective, truthful and professional, "instead of hiding behind press freedom to deliberately peddle falsehood and in other cases hate mongering".

He expressed regret that management of Joy FM which broadcasted the false news item refused to give government's rejoinder to the alleged death threat and GREDA contract cancellation story equal airtime and prominence as the original story.

"This was despite the fact that other media houses had published the government statement and officials of GREDA had denied the Joy FM claims", it added.

"The President Mills' administration believes in the strengthening of our institutions including the media and would be the last to truncate the freedom of the press, but the rights that are enjoyed by the media must be balanced with responsibility," the statement continued.

The Ministry reminded journalists of Articles 164 and 165 of the Constitution about the limitations to press freedom, explaining that the two provisions must be looked at in terms of how the media could and must contribute to national development.

The statement confirmed a meeting with the GJA on Wednesday, at which the association following an official letter sent to it by the management of Joy FM engaged the Ministry on the latest developments on the false Joy FM death threat story.

"We discussed broadly with the GJA matters of mutual concern including media accountability and unethical practices in the journalism profession", it said.

Mr. Akologu explained that the Ministry did not consider criminal prosecution an answer to the many cases of unethical practices, recounted many instances of Joy FM's unprofessional broadcasts.

He observed that the work of the Police must be "delinked" from central government and for that matter the Ministry of Information because the decision to caution the Joy FM editor and refer the matter to the Attorney General was and remained the decision of the Police.

However, the statement said the Minister welcomed the request from the GJA for the Ministry to assist to discontinue the case against Joy FM.