The National Media Commission (NMC) has cited 44 television (TV) stations for broadcasting unethical, indecent and offensive content. A public announcement by the NMC has directed owners of the 44 stations to meet with the Commission on Thursday, October 31, 2024. “Owners of the media houses are invited to a discussion with the National Media Commission on the regulatory implications of their broadcast content,” the announcement stated.
The Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, disclosed that the television stations were cited because they broadcasted content on pornography, indecency, fake lottery, occultism, money doubling claims and money rituals. He explained that the 44 stations were found to have broadcasted the impugned content during a regular joint monitoring by the Commission and the National Communications Authority (NCA). On what sanctions would be meted out to the 44 stations, Mr Sarpong said the NMC would issue a final warning to them at the October 31, 2024 meeting.
The Chronicle is of the view that the decision by the NMC to summon 44 television stations over unethical and indecent content is a step in the right direction. This move brings long-overdue attention to the erosion of broadcast ethics within Ghana’s media landscape.
As the fourth estate, the media is entrusted with the responsibility of disseminating information that enriches the moral and intellectual fabric of society. Yet, when that trust is compromised with indecent content, fake lottery schemes, occultism, money doubling claims and other unwholesome practices, it harms not only viewers but also the broader social structure.
The foundational role of the media is not merely to entertain but to inform and educate, strengthening the society it serves. Ethical broadcasting is particularly essential in this digital age, where young minds have unprecedented access to TV and online content.
Indecent content, in particular, promotes values that run contrary to societal norms, exposing children and young adults to distorted ideals. Fake lottery schemes and money-doubling activities exploit vulnerable populations, worsening financial hardship and undermining trust in legitimate financial institutions. By airing these unethical programs, media channels disregard their responsibility, in favor of profit.
The proliferation of occultism and money rituals on television is even more concerning. Such content can encourage harmful beliefs and actions, leading to a rise in dangerous practices that erode social cohesion and safety.
Broadcasting the above themes as legitimate pathways to wealth has a corrosive impact, especially on young people, seeking financial security in a challenging economy. While the NMC is constitutionally bound to promote freedom of expression, the balance between this freedom and ethical content regulation remains a delicate one.
The Chronicle believes that the NMC’s intervention serves as a wake-up call to all media houses. The role of television stations in shaping public discourse and societal norms is profound and with that influence comes a profound responsibility to promote content that positively influences the public. The importance of freedom in media cannot be overstated and it is equally true that media content must always be guided by integrity and accountability.
As the NMC works to uphold these standards, Ghanaian society should continue to support and demand media that enriches, rather than erodes, the social fabric.
