A fish trapped in a net

On a visit to Tefle, a fish trapped in a net by one little boy who later gave me his name as Abgeshie caught my attention. It was really an interesting sight to behold. The wagging of the tail and the jiggling of the body of the fish in a fruitless attempt to escape shook the net briskly but there were no gains made as far as the freedom of the helpless creature was concerned. The firm little hands of the Voltarian seemed to have more experience as it wrapped up the net immediately with both hands. Beaming with smiles Agbeshie set off for the house and told me he was going to grill his catch for a solid match with ‘Akple’and hot pepper. Nature indeed is unfair. Poor fish!

In my mind’s eye, I could not help but see the majority of journalist in this country as been in the same shoes with the poor fish. The sad tale common to both parties is that they have been caught in a net trap which denies them of their freedom. The net trap that has caught journalist is that which has been woven by so called democrats who hold it in their power to supply the fire that bakes the news bread. It is the most unholy rape against our democracy as the active watch dogs of society has been hypnotized into becoming robotic participants. Indeed our democracy has being fragile and will remain like that until this problem is resolved.

It is very saddening that after over fifty years of nationhood and with the concession to an open-minded environment, the media still lacks introspection. The state owned media has been forced to embrace the culture of silence and horn - blowing for a sitting government since the inception of democracy in 1992. God save our democracy!

Although some private media are being fair and firm, their efforts are being blinded by a good number of them who are gradually becoming a thorn in the flesh of our toddling democracy, as most of them continue to beat the shameful drums of nudity and political vendetta in a faithful attempt to exploit the unlearned masses. Such acts include concocting stories, the blatant parade of sex, making allegations which lack meat, the conscious inflation and deflation of figures which leaves much to be desired. . I do not reject the fact that journalist; belonging to a political structure with diverse ideologies should have their own ideological provenance. A Media house which operates within a particular ideological lacuna in a democracy is fair but certainly foul when it becomes blind to truth. The posture of a jaundiced eye assumed by the press in performing their analytical and interpretative function has affected the thinking and behavioral posture of the public in Ghana: as every issue is seen with either the tribal or partisan eyes.

To press for the independence of Journalist in Ghana is like trying to disentangle a spider from its web with the hope that it finds solace without its abode. The criticality of the issue lies in the fact that journalist have a very sleek autonomy as they are pressed to satisfy their employers even before they consider the welfare of society. Also, considering the skimpy remuneration that Journalists receive the call that they refrain from taking “soli” (disguised gifts to lobby their conscience) is one which is quiet redundant in itself. This is the exact picture of a fish caught in a net trap that I am talking about.

Indeed the absence of introspection on the media landscape which has been greeted with unnecessary factionalism and political vendetta puts our democracy in real danger. If those to whose door steps this unholy drama can be traced to fold their arms and watch unperturbed, then let it be made clear to them that another Rwanda and Kenya is about to ruin their homes. . By Enock Gyan, Creative Writers and Orators Club-GIJ