Abolish Information Ministry - Prof

Accra, Sept 28, GNA - Professor Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh, a communication expert has called for the abolishing of the Ministry of Information, headed by Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie(pictured), saying resources allotted to it should rather be reinvested into the Ministry of Communications to vigorously address issues of the Information society.

In professorial inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof Ansu-Kyeremeh highlighted excellence, objectivity, and the need for factual and balanced journalism with freedom and quality professionalism as tenets that must be promoted.

The lecture, titled "Ka Nea Woahu" (Publish Only the Verified): An African Communication Paradigm, was laced with humour, indigenous Akan lyrics and proverbs, and exposed the framework of communication in Africa, specifically in the area of news reporting.

Prof Ansu-Kyeremeh explored different paradigms of journalism that sought freedom, balanced with factual and truthful reporting, pointing out that the watchdog role of journalism was not just constitutional, but fundamental to public discipline, a major criterion for good governance, development and progress.

Watchdog journalism, he said, would also avoid the abuse of privilege by an incumbent President who is seeking re-election. The lecture touched on media pluralism, training, current practices of 'newspaper reviews programmes', news polls, regulatory regimes and "citizen journalism".
It called for an aggressive strategy and programme for an African technological leap in communication practice. "There needs to be an aggressive strategy and programme for an African technological leap that would enable both software and hardware production deepening, as well as content uploading and up-linking to achieve celestial inclusiveness", Prof Ansu-Kyeremeh said. He said self-regulation in media practice must be intensified and strengthened in reporting and other related practices. Also, the Ghana Journalists Association must be courageous enough to set standards, and find more effective sanctioning of errant behaviour and unethical infractions.
"Self regulation must tackle the problem of "twakurodo", "okromouth", "anukom", "di nsekuo", "ntwatoso", "aya", insults....they are all freely used on air with reckless abandon" said Prof Ansu-Kyeremeh, who is also an Apemanihene in Bosomtwe Atwima-Kwanwoma District.
He called for more resources to be allocated to the National Media Commission to enhance its monitoring role and also give it a more national outlook.