Former General Secretary of Christian Council of Ghana Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong has said partisanship and lack of editorial objectivity in the Ghanaian media are silencing voices of wisdom and fueling the politicization of national issues.
Speaking during a public lecture as part of activities marking the 100 anniversary of Presbyterian Church of Ghana- Akuapem Presbytery Ascension Congregation in Koforidua under the theme ” The Church as an Agent for Consolidating Democracy, Economic Transformation and Social Equity in Ghana: Prospects and Challenges, Rev. Dr. Opuni Frimpong said the rate at which politicians are establishing radio and TV stations for aggrandizement calls for the intervention of the National Media Commission to be strict in enforcing ethical standards in the media space.
He said, “the challenge of extreme partisanship has a lot to do with the Ghanaian media at the moment and the owners of the media houses because now we have people who have specific political interest setting up media houses using those media houses to pursue their political interest, and so sometimes you are not sure of their editorial policy because people sit down and say all manner of things and nobody stops them”.
“Now partisanship and lack of objective editorial policy in the Ghanaian media is what is fueling the over partisanship challenges too much of almost anything because some of us are suffering from these media houses because when you speak the truth they will not even listen to you, they will even insult you,” he said.
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong maintains that such media houses do not listen to the truth and the substantial issues at hand but will always expect people to speak in favor of their political parties this he said “is gradually silencing the voices of wisdom in Ghana”
“So there is no objectivity and no argument in Ghanaian media and until the National Media Commission intervenes to address the issue with the owners of media houses on how to eliminate partisanship of the media and pave way for objectivity to take its course, then we will have a long way to go as a country.
He reiterated that let nobody create the impression that the Christian Council has entered into a partnership of convenience with any political party, which has not been the intention of the Christian council since he worked with the council.
“What is amazing is that some of the things we are saying today have been said in the past but when these politicians are in opposition and you say some of these things they receive it in good faith and even congratulate you but when they are in power they don’t want to hear these same words” he explained.
He, therefore, urged that politicians should avoid giving that impression about the clergy saying “it is a political strategy because when they are in opposition they cry differently but when they are in power the sound also changes”
Rev. Dr. Opuni Frimpong said the comment made by the National Security Minister on the perception of judicial bias fueling security threats must be taken seriously.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders to desist from actions that weaken or threaten public confidence because democracy strives for public confidence in state institutions.
“I don’t intend to discuss the merit whether it is true, not true, or right, but my thinking is assuming Hon. Kan Dapaah did not say this but Okudjeto Ablakwa did, or anybody else, let us listen to what is in there, it doesn’t mean we are there but let us take it as a caution statement, let us make sure that all state institutions Sustains public confidence, let us not do anything that weakens or threatens public confidence because democracy survives on public confidence in state institutions” he said.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
