Ghana needs a comprehensive broadcasting law - Media Commission

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA - Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, a tutor at the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, on Tuesday called for a comprehensive broadcasting law to articulate the fundamental principles and objectives of broadcasting in Ghana.

She said because Ghana lacked a comprehensive broadcasting law that sets out clearly the legal framework to regulate the industry, the broadcasting sphere has been inundated by unprofessional conducts, sensationalism and sheer abusive calumnies and invectives. Dr Gadzekpo was speaking at the First Anniversary Celebration of the Sixth Commission of the National Media Commission (NMC) on the theme: "A Free and Responsible Media: - Some Reflections." Dr Gadzekpo, a member of the NMC, said there might be the need for a law that would penalise hate speech and publications. "We believe that the National Media Commission (NMC) has an important role to play in ensuring that our airwaves become the media for civility, tolerance, lively debate, information and education for the people and not a vehicle for crude insults and invectives." She explained that the dangers of an unregulated broadcasting system became too obvious to Ghanaians, especially in the run-up to and after the re-run of Election 2008.

Speaking on the topic: "A Conducive Legal Framework for Media Practice in Ghana", Dr Gadzekpo said, the proposal by the Government through the Ministry of Information to review provisions of the Constitution on the NMC was inconsistent with the spirit and letter of Article 167. "The Commission is of the considered opinion that the truly significance of the proposal in respect of appointment of the Chairman unfortunately seeks to bring the Commission under the influence of the Executive", she added. Dr Gadzekpo said it was taking too long to pass the Right to Information Bill into Law to provide detailed legal mechanism for Ghanaians to exercise their guaranteed fundamental right. On behalf of the NMC, she rendered an unqualified condemnation of people who published false news and defamatory stories affecting the reputation of others and drew attention to the selective usage of sections of the law by the police. "This does not promote the vital principal of equality of persons before the law. We appeal to the Ghana Police Service to desist from applying the law in a discriminating manner in violation of Article 17 of the Constitution", she said.

Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of NMC, said some state media institutions in total disregard to the public pledge by the Government undermined governance and open declaration of Ghanaians for a free press. "Let a vacancy occur in a State-owned media, let a transfer be effected and journalists can be found seeking help from the political godfathers whose interventionist role in the media has been terminated by the constitution", he added. He mentioned subtle attempts by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to use its powers to harass and intimidate key personnel of the media.

"Three Chief Executives of the State-owned media have at various periods been the subject of investigations by the office. In two instances EOCO requested the officers to be interdicted without any evidence warranting such administrative action."

Mr Blay-Amihere reiterated the call for the Ghana Police Service to act in a manner that would benefit all Ghanaians, saying, "We tell them their actions are not good for Ghana's reputation." He said: "The Ghana Police Service have created its own miracle by resurrecting an old law to put fear of the police i n all those who are alleged to cause fear and panic in the country." Mr Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Representative, highlighted the media's role in promoting social accountability, and said the media should take the lead in making citizens put pressure on public servants to perform their duties. "The Media can do better in terms of focusing on the right issues", he said asking: "How is the social debate being shaped?" Mr Diwan while commending the media for the good work done, noted that the media had played an important role in Ghana's democracy but "there is more to be done". 30 Nov. 10