"Times" journalists study libel laws

Accra (Greater Accra) 11Oct. ?99

An Appeal Court Judge on Saturday urged Journalists to avoid libel cases by cross checking doubtful material, publishing rejoinders of people libelled or apologising to people they defamed.

Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney said even though some clauses in the law enable journalists to defend their publications, "the best way out is to avoid publishing materials with doubtful authenticity."

He gave the caution at a day's seminar on "The law of libel and Contempt of court", organised in Accra for journalists of the Times Corportation by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

The participants were taken through lectures on civil and criminal libel, and the defences they can put up in court.

Mr Amonoo-Monney stressed that in spite of the risks, journalists can insist on their publications provided they have a good cause that can be defended in a court of law.

He underscored the importance of the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution, where disputes are settled among opposing parties without going to court, saying this relieves "one of the travails of court proceedings".

Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, GJA President, noted that the recent practice of some individuals and institutions to send their reservations about media publications to the National Media Commission instead of the courts, is the best way forward.