Ghana: Journalism Standard Falls in Tamale

Tamale — Barely a month after The Chronicle challenged the National Media Commission (NMC) to keep an eagle eye on, and closely monitor the activities of Radio Presenters in the Tamale Metropolis before they throw the area into uncontrollable pandemonium, the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has also registered its dissatisfaction about the work of radio stations in Tamale.

 

The Chronicle can report once again that almost all the radio stations in the Tamale Metropolis have not been professional in their work, and their activities do not commensurate their core duty of informing, entertaining and educating the masses, but rather putting the peace of the area on the line.

 

Majority of the presenters, apart from being unprofessional or untrained, invite "insignificant persons" with little or no knowledge about topics they table for discussions. The presenters and their panelists sometimes end up poisoning the minds of their listeners or polluting the airwaves, which triggers provocation and unhealthy comments from the public, especially during the phone-in programmes.

 

Against this backdrop, the Northern Regional Security Council, chaired by Moses Bukari Mabengba has issued a stern warning to Managers of all Radio stations in Tamale to re-orient their staff and to do well to invite credible panelists to take part in discussions on their networks.

 

The warning was issued at an emergency security meeting between members of REGSEC, Radio Station Managers, some Presenters and serial panelists, after a clash nearly broke out among some factions during a talk-show programme on one of the local radio stations in Tamale.

 

There have been several instances where some radio stations, radio presenters and even panelists have been physically attacked by some youth groups due to how some of the radio programmes, including how morning shows are handled. Mr. Mabengba implored the Managers to do away with cheap labour and thus employ professional media personnel who could handle programmes on their networks in an expert and expedient manner.

 

According to the Northern Regional Minister designate, REGSEC recognized the role of the media in the socio-economic development of the nation and it was not in an attempt to gag any media house or practitioner, since the 1992 constitution grants freedom of expression.

 

But the REGSEC would not hesitate to close down either temporary or permanently any radio station which operation threaten the peace, security and development of the area.

 

He said the media was the only tool that could advocate for peace and should not allow people to use the platform it creates to foment trouble. It advised that the media should not be used as a tool that can inflame passions, urging practitioners to learn lessons from the Rwandan genocide. The Acting Chairman of REGSEC, therefore, cautioned presenters of radio programmes to know how to control their panelists to evade inflammatory remarks.

 

Mr. Moses Mabengba advised radio producers to select panelists who accommodate views of other people. Other members of the REGSEC suggested that topical issues that centre on national development should be discussed, rather than issues bordering on chieftaincy.

 

 

- February 17, 2010 by Edmond Gyebi (The Chronicle)

 

.................

 

 

Source: www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/thestory.asp (accessed on 18.02.2010)