Opinions of Thursday, 3 September 2015

Columnist: Daily Post

How Stan Dogbe Thwarted The Attempt To ....

Secretly Record A Discussion Between Govt Officials & Late Nuamah's Family


For those who have become part of the Stan Dogbe lynch mob, they would hear, see and speak no good about him even in matters which they ought to praise him; they would rather condemn him. One of the organizations which have become part of the Stan Dogbe lynch mob is the hapless Media Foundation for West Africa.
The Foundation and a few members of the inky fraternity are as usual baying for Stan Dogbe's blood after an incident which led to his destroying the recorder of a Reporter from GBC.
The facts, as usual have been distorted by the lynch mob to ensure Stan Dogbe is guilty in the court of public opinion whether he is really guilty or not. The truth, however, cannot be suppressed.
After the tragic accident involving the Presidential Press corps on Thursday, August 20, 2015, which led to the unfortunate death of GHANAIAN TIMES Reporter, Samuel Nuamah, Stan Dogbe, managed to get some of the late Samuel Nuamah's family members as well as some management members of the GHANAIAN TIMES to the 37 Military Hospital. Then he, together with Dr. Omane Boamah, Minister for Communication and some security personnel called them aside for a discussion.
Along the line, a man came close to them but was asked to excuse the group because they were having a private discussion. After a couple of minutes, the man came back again. Stan Dogbe then pleaded again with the man to excuse them. The man retorted that there were others there hence he did not see why he should leave. Just then, a car passed by and its headlight revealed the man's recorder; it was running which meant it was recording. Stan Dogbe immediately asked him why he was secretly recording their conversation. Then without much ado, he grabbed the recorder and destroyed it. It later turned out that the man was Yahya Kwamoah of GBC.
While members of the Stan Dogbe lynch mob have gone to town with this latest incident demanding for his head, many opine that he was within his right to act the way he did since it was unethical for the journalist to secretly record a private conversation.
"If Stan Dogbe had not acted the way he did, by now, the recording of the conversation would be making the rounds on the airwaves of some radio stations as well as on social media with personal and private information being put out in public domain" says Gershon Palm, a teacher who spoke to the DAILY POST yesterday. On facebook , many, including some NPP activists opined that Stan Dobge acted well in destroying the recorder and further said he should not replace it as he has promised the management of GBC he would do.
Says Manasseh Selorm Tekpor; "Even in our own country when the Americans said we should not take pictures close to their embassy, we never questioned them but we are ready to record our public officials' private conversation just to soil their name and later tell them to go to court to seek redress? After the damage? Those journalist who refused to apply what they were thought in school should try their nonsense near the American Embassy let's see."
One Jack Awadada also writes; "I don't think anyone has the right to record people's private conversation claiming to be doing so in public interest. We all know where such recordings usually end up. NEWS OF THE WORLD has been closed down in the UK over such unethical ways of extracting information because it violates people's right to privacy."