The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), as well as our partners, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the New Media Association, note with concern the growing spate of breaches of responsible and professional media conduct in the country.
The GJA Code of Ethics and the GIBA Code of Conduct clearly spell out the responsibilities of journalists and media practitioners in the execution of their roles and mandates.
In the spirit of those professional codes, this Coalition condemns in no uncertain terms, comments and pronouncements that have the potential to undermine Ghana’s peace and stability as a democracy, and which can negatively affect our collective efforts in protecting and defending media freedoms, as well as freedom of expression in the country.
We are of the view that being critical and holding leaders and government accountable to the people should not be conflated with spewing hate speech and insulting personalities.
The Coalition is resolute in its defense of media freedom and free speech.However, we cannot overlook unethical behaviour that brings the media profession into disrepute and undermine public trust in the media as an institution.
We, therefore, unequivocally condemn all unethical and reckless media practice byany journalist or media practitioner. In this regard, we wish to remind and caution all journalists, media practitioners and media organisations that the extent to which the three umbrella bodies, that is, the GJA, GIBA and PRINPAG, together with the MFWA and the New Media Association, can defend media freedoms is very much dependent on how professionally and responsibly journalists, media practitioners and media organisations carry out their duties.
Over the weekend for example, we heard the disturbing and reckless comments of Blessed Godsbrain Smart aka‘Captain Smart’,made on Accra-based OnuaTV.He described as ‘beasts,’ people who would vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December elections.
Giving the severity of his utterances and the ethical breach, we call on the Board and Management of Media General, to take immediate action to mete out appropriate sanctions to Mr. Smart. This will not only serve as a deterrent to others, but will enhance public confidence in the media organisation, as an organisation that detest unprofessional conduct.
In West Africa, Ghana is an oasis of peace and this needs to be guarded at all cost. We stress the point that the media industry plays a critical role in ensuring the protection of national peace and security.
We, therefore, urge all to conform to the tenets and standards we have set for ourselves in ensuring that everything we do is in conformity with the laws of the country and the ethics of our profession in order not to plunge our country into needless chaos as happened in Rwanda three decades ago.
We must also be guided by the fact that we are fast approaching the general elections in December with the political atmosphere already charged. Therefore, it is important to be sensitive to the fact in these times, the least incitement could lead to an explosion.
The GJA, GIBA, PRINPAG, MFWA and New Media Association, therefore, caution all journalists, media practitioners and media organisations to be cautious of their utterances and reportage on their platforms to save the country from slipping on to the path of violence with its attendant consequences.
It is important to note that this caution is not a gag on the right to free expression, given that there are decorous means and avenues for journalists and citizens to expresstheir opinions loud and clear.
We remain resolute in our defence for media freedom and that requires us to also champion media professionalism.
May God bless our nation Ghana and continue to make her great and strong.
Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article do not represent that of The Chronicle
