Ghana: Frontiers of Press will not be fettered, says Deputy Minister

A Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured members of the inky-fraternity that the government would not do anything to fetter the frontiers of press freedom in the country. According to him, the government remains committed to good governance and rule of law, and believes that freedom of speech must not be criminalised. To him, it was important for people to air their views, no matter how hurting it may be.

Interacting with journalists in Takoradi recently, Mr. Ablakwa noted that in as much as the government was committed to promoting press freedom, the practitioners must also ensure that freedom of the press goes with responsibility.

 

He dismissed speculations that the recent invitation of journalists by the police was the work of the government, saying the two institutions work in different capacities.

 

It is an undeniable fact that the media has contributed significantly to the democratic process of this country.

 

Top journalists like Kweku Baako Jnr., Kwesi Pratt Jnr., the late Tommy Thompson, Kabral Blay-Amihere and Kofi Coomson, among others put their lives on the line to ensure the sustenance of democracy in this country.

 

Today, Ghana can boast of several newspapers in circulation, in addition to the numerous radio stations that have sprung up across the country, which has given people the platform to contribute their quota towards the development of the country.

 

In a country where the freedom of the press is stifled through the existence of obnoxious laws, it is democracy that suffers.

 

It is as a result of this that The Chronicle became apprehensive, when people were being arrested at radio stations for expressing their views on national issues.

 

The episode was reminiscent of the dark days in the history of this country, when journalists were hounded for exposing corruption in government.

 

The Chronicle is, however, happy that Mr. Okudzeto has come out to assure the people of this country that the government has no intention of curtailing the successes chalked in the area of press freedom in this country.

 

Any government that tries to antagonise the media is surely not the one that will help nurture democracy, and we hope that members of government, who are refusing to tolerate the media, would have a change of mind, since it would not serve their own interests.

 

We, however, agree with Mr. Okudzeto that the exercise of press freedom goes with responsibility.

 

The fact that journalists have the right to keep the government on its toes, does not mean they should be reckless in the discharge of their duties.

 

The Rwanda civil war came about as a result of media recklessness, and this must not be allowed to occur in Ghana.

 

Journalists have the responsibility to ensure that this country stays united, by particularly, avoiding the promotion of religious fanaticism.

 

-September 01, 2010 by Ghanaian Chronicle

……………..

Source: allafrica.com/stories/201009010217.html (accessed on 01.09.10)