Media Practitioners  Warned Against Unguarded Comments

Media owners and practitioners are advised to desist from making and allowing unguarded statements which would go in a long way to heighten tension in a run up to the 2016 elections. Speaking on Onua Fm’s Election Command Centre, Kokromoti, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Local Government Institute Dr Eric Oduro Osae said media owners should be mindful of resource persons especially the politicians, they allow into their studios and what comments they make.

He maintained that it is the responsibility of these media owners to control what goes on air as any attempt to misconstrue free speech to mean one can say anything and get away with it, is potential to plunging the country into chaos. Dr Eric Oduro Osae’s comments followed 4 moths jail sentenceand a 10,000 cedis fine handed by the Supreme Court to two radio panelists Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn and host of political talk show on Accra based Muntie Fm, Salifu Maase, now known as Muntie 3.

“I think we all must be careful what we say and most especially media owners and commentators, people get up and go on air and make all kinds of unfounded allegations and what is sad is radio moderators will also allow these comments to go unchecked, it is dangerous for our budding democracy”

Dr Eric Oduro Osae has also expressed disappointment over what he described as carelessness on the part of radio hosts. He maintained that moderators of political shows who are supposed to be radar of the show and educate the public, mostly find themselves also joining the frail either urging their guests on or contributing to the cacophony. “Now a days, you find presenters or show hosts who have become major instigators on radio, such people are becoming a threat to democracy, radio is to educate and inform but there seem to be a new trend which we need to nip at the back or we throw this country into flame”

He posited that both media owners and practitioners should champion developmental discussions as well as messages that will continue to maintain the peace of this country instead of allowing disparaging and incriminating comments.

“Let us promote peace and development for a better Ghana instead of promoting divisive tendencies” he added.