‘Arrogant gov’t communicators blocking Mahama’s message’ – Brobby

The founder of Ghana's first private radio station, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, has rejected claims by the President that a section of the media are blocking government messages abou its achievement.

According to him such messages are instead being blocked by arrogance shown by government communicators who waste media spaces given them instead of explaining to Ghanaians their successes.

Arrogance blocking gov't messages
“I have not seen any media not giving space to different opinions but unfortunately some abuse it, those in power think that they can pick and choose who to speak to and when to speak and then they found out that picking and choosing is not the same as reaching the audience,” he added.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby made the comment on Eyewitness News on the back of an interview Mahama granted the Ovation Magazine where he among other things expressed worry over what he calls the control of Ghana's media by a cabal who are blocking his message of transformation.

“It is populism, a certain group has taken control of the media in Ghana and it makes it difficult for people to discern the truth. So as much as you are putting out the information, it is either being blocked or distorted,” he said.

Media censorship is over
But Dr. Wereko Brobbey who is also a chief policy analyst at the Ghana Institute for Public Policy Options (GIPPO) noted that the era of media censorship has ended and hence government cannot control what media houses publish.

“Unfortunately you cannot dictate to the professional ones and also I've noticed that even the so-called cabal, they give opportunities to all political shades of opinions to speak their mind. Unfortunately there is an arrogance of power which is being displayed. When people get the opportunity instead of selling their message and their achievements, they would prefer to insult others and crowd out the space that has been given them to explain exactly what they have done.… The media has taken it upon itself to do fact checking so that if you go out and say you have done ABDCD the media is not likely to swallow it hook and sinker. You can do that with your partisan media but you can't do that with professional organisations who are seeking to inform the people of Ghana,” he noted.

What should government do?
Dr. Wereko-Brobby also admonished government to ensure that information it wants disseminated to the public must be credible.

“I think the thing for government to do is to make sure to disseminate information that is truthful and does not take anguish with media people.”

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin