Nov polls will be peaceful if… – NMC Boss

If all professional bodies whose works are linked to the upcoming elections in November stick to the ethics and code of conduct governing their professional duties, Ghana will experience a peaceful election, Kwasi Gyan-Apenten, Chairman of the National Media Commission has said.

Ghana goes to the polls to elect a president and members of parliament this year but the stakes are already high. There were pockets of violence that characterised the limited voter registration exercise. There is also a heated dispute over the credibility of the electoral register.

At the launch of the NMC Election 2016 project in Ho on the theme: 'Improving Media Regulations in the regions for peaceful election 2016,' Mr Gyan-Apenten advised professionals to do their work well in the election season for the survival of the country.

‘‘There is a code of ethics for the police, the political parties, media, for all organisations and all professions. If we all live by our professional standards, we will not have any problem during the election,” he said.

The Election 2016 project is being funded by Strengthening Transparency Accountability and Responsiveness (STAR) Ghana and designed to enable the NMC to create a synergy between the Commission and the various stakeholders.

Mr Gyan-Apenten asked politicians to research topics before speaking on them so as to prevent misinformation. He also urged the media to exhibit high professionalism by also cross-checking their facts before putting them in the public domain.