British Diplomat Hails Debate On Censorship

...It's a healthy democratic practice

The British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Robin Gwynn says the debate arising out of a Government directive seeking to censor all news items in relation to the inter-ethnic fighting which took place in Yendi could be seen as part of a healthy democratic process similar to that in the United Kingdom and other established democracies.

While making known his Government's appreciation of Ghana's democratic process, Mr. Gwynn observed that the censorship directive by Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the Information Minister, led in turn to protests from various sectors of the Ghanaian media with some perceiving the censorship as restrictions on media reporting in relation to the Yendi crisis.

The Deputy High Commissioner was speaking at the opening of a two-day seminar on self-regulatory systems in the Commonwealth press organized in Accra at the instance of the Commonwealth Press Union.

"On one level-without getting into the arguments for or against this specific measure-this debate in itself can be seen as part of a healthy democratic progress, similar to that in the U.K and other established democracies," he said referring to debates arising out of the censorship directive.

He noted that in this case, it was for Ghanaians themselves to decide where the boundaries lie, in the light of the laws and customs of the nation, stressing that principles and guidelines may be sought from the wider Commonwealth and other countries, but ultimately the way forward must make sense and be acceptable locally, in line with local developing democracy.

Touching on the Commonwealth, the press and human rights, Mr. Gwynn intimated the commonwealth's determination to uphold the freedom of the press and other basic human rights, saying, these the Commonwealth cannot take for granted.

He underlined the British Government's commitment to the enhancement of human rights worldwide, saying it is an objective in which strengthening legitimate press freedoms play a central part.

He said to give reason to these worthy intentions; the U.K Foreign and Commonwealth Office established in 1998, the Human Rights Project Fund to support projects around the world aimed at strengthening human rights.

Since it's inception, some 15 million pounds has been spent on over 400 projects in 90 countries around the world, he said, adding that one of the key target areas for the fund is promoting freedom of expression, information, religious association including the development of the independent media.

According to him, the fund is administered through British Embassies and High Commissions worldwide with Ghana benefiting from14 projects estimated to cost 300,000 pounds sterling, in addition to media training in the run-up to and after the general election in late 2000.

Previewing the seminar that is being attended by participants from Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroun, among other West African States, he cited its complimentary objects in looking at the role of the media, and how it can most effectively be carried out in different societies.

The Commonwealth Press Union, organizers of the seminar was formally established in 1950, to uphold the values of the New Commonwealth and promote the welfare of its press.

Its aim and objectives among other things include the monitoring and opposing of all measures and proposals likely to affect the freedom of the press in any part of the commonwealth and working for improved facilities for reporting and transmitting news.