NDC set to repair dented image

The Youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has recognised the important role of the media in the rebuilding of the party and has therefore pledged its commitment to a renewed friendship with it.

As the first step to the attainment of this noble objective, the NDC Youth Forum organized a day’s seminar on the “Role of the Media and the Minority in a developing democracy.”

Media practitioners who attended the seminar lauded the NDC for its efforts to repair its dented image with the media while it was in power. Journalists, especially those in the private media, were harassed and some were imprisoned for taking stands against the then government. Notable among them were known critics of the party like Mr. Kwaku Baako, Editor of the Crusading Guide and Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Editor of the Weekly Insight.

Mr. Baako, who presented a paper at the forum, described the encounter as the demonstration of the beauty of democracy. He said: "Those perceived as reckless critics of the NDC are here today, hopefully, not in a lion's den, to give meaning to democracy, which must be developed and sustained in this country. "We are here to sharpen the rough edges of the process of learning of democratic practices."

Mr. Baako said it was too early to start blaming the press of bias because the direction of the media has not changed, citing issues like the Mallam Isa case, which the private media raised against the current government.

Mr. Pratt said although he was arrested 12 times by the PNDC and twice by the NDC and became critical of that government's policies, "I will, here, admit that we shall be critical of the current government". "We criticised the NDC for adopting the World Bank's structural adjustment programme and the NPP's policies are the same as that of the NDC." He said no journalist could remain neutral, adding that every media had its target audience with an underlying philosophy.

Mr. Pratt said he being a believer in Dr Nkrumah's philosophy would continue to champion that cause, adding that if the NDC would change its policy, "I can assure you that I will devote the 12 pages of my paper to it".

The News Editor of Radio Gold, Kofi Abotsi, in an anecdote said the media was only a mirror of the larger society. He said although it only sold the idea to the society "and does not do the killing" its role was more painful than those who did the killing. He said the press would continue to be critically objective to sustain freedom of speech.

The Editor of the Ghanaian Palaver, a mouthpiece of the NDC, Jojo Bruce Quansah said his publications were based on facts, which he could substantiate and it was unfortunate that some of his colleagues were giving him names.

He said it must be admitted that there were always two sides to every issue and in democratic practices one had the right to choose a line without compromising the truth and objectivity.

A PNC MP for Bolgatanga, David Apasera, appealed to the press to support minority political parties to act as watchdogs of society to deepen the practice of democracy. The NDC seminar was in keeping with the philosophy that it was time the party took a dispassionate look at its past relationships with various segments of society in order to better shape its present and future.

He said during the PNDC regime the private media was forced into hibernation. The attendant built-up resentments, acrimony and anger largely influenced and coloured the activities of the media over the last few years.

The past has been dogged with painful and bitter experiences but there is so much that all of us and coming generations can learn from these unfortunate mistakes. Mr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chairman of NDC Publicity Committee, who chaired the function, commended the journalists for being frank in their presentations and prayed the event would mark a new beginning in the party's relationship with the media.