Election Petition: Prof Karikari warns against culture of silence

Professor Kwame Karikari says the need for responsible reporting and fear of contempt of court should not foster a self-imposed culture of silence in the country.

He said a culture of silence will not be in the interest of the country's young democracy.

Prof. Karikari made this comment at a round table discussion organised by the Editors Forum, the Media Foundation for West Africa in collaboration with the US Embassy.

His comments come in the wake of a deafening crusade for peace and a call for responsible journalism.

Whilst agreeing that journalists must uphold high journalistic standards and responsibility, he feared the ongoing crusade may censor and gag people, thereby undermining the fundamental right to free speech.

Joy News' Francis Abban reported the Media Foundation's Executive Director as saying, that people should be able to speak their minds, but with decorum.

The focus of the round-table discussion was to educate the media to avoid traps of contempt in court reporting.