$125,000 Still a Rumour - Declares Ethics Committee

Yesterday, the Editor of ADM, Mr. A. Harruna Attah, met with the Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association. The two and a half hour meeting produced the following statement from the committee. Please see Editorial.

"The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association met with Mr. Harruna Attah, Editor of The Accra Daily Mail (ADM) over the publication of the $125,000 story in the 7th October 2002 edition of the newspaper.

Mr. Attah declared himself willing to disclose the names of the persons relevant to the story provided the Committee regarded the disclosures as confidential and did not pursue the information given. His reasons are that a person's life may be jeopardized and that the story is still under investigation.

The Committee was unable to accept this condition pointing out that an Ethics Committee operates on its ability to act on Information received. The Committee, therefore, decided that the matter of the $125,000 remains a rumour.

Mr. Attah has, however, indicated his willingness to meet the committee again when his investigations are concluded.

The Committee has accordingly advised Mr. Attah that in the interest of the public and that of the profession of journalism, he should come out as soon as possible with an acceptable conclusion to end the speculation about the story.