NMC and ministry raise concern over media

The National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs on Friday said they have a common concern to raise the standard of media practice, curb irresponsible journalism, protect the privacy of citizens and to advance good governance as enshrined in the Constitution.

The two bodies said in a joint statement signed by Mr Kof0i Sekyiamah, Chief Director of Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs, said the concern was the outcome of interaction the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey had with the NMC on Tuesday.

The meeting resolved to make the interaction an on-going exercise to resolve issues of common concern.

It said, "The matter of the limits of authority of the Ministry and the NMC with regards to the functioning of state media received attention with the Minister stressing his ministerial responsibility to Parliament and the Executive for institutions in which government has investment interests".

The statement said, "the meeting was inspired by the common purpose of pursuing the provisions of the Constitution in safeguarding the freedom of the press and the protection of the fundamental rights of citizens as well as national security, public order and public morality".

It said the meeting, which was "extremely cordial" agreed on a continuous dialogue between the NMC, media practitioners and the Ministry to resolve various issues.