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18.12.2014 Opinion

Adults, Respect Yourselves

By Daily Guide
Adults, Respect Yourselves
18.12.2014 LISTEN

Discipline and respect are virtues that are earned and not bought in the market. Neither could anyone be bribed to show respect to someone. It would be tantamount to fun fool respect and that might be short-lived and therefore dangerous.

A recent scuffle (not fisticuff) between Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central and Alhaji Bature, Editor of Alhaj, a private newspaper, on air was not only disgraceful, but shameful, to say the least. At a time like this, were they mindful as to whether their wives, children, concubines and other relatives, as well as concerned citizens were listening to them?

No matter what might have sparked the rift, I expected one of these adults to have zipped his mouth. That would not have taken anything from any one of the parties involved. For these two adults to have fallen into the Korle Lagoon, despite their lifetime achievements, was shocking and inexplicable. If that is what is called fame, then let it be.

The prime mandate of journalism is to inform, educate and entertain the public. Oftentimes, Kennedy Agyapong, owner of Oman FM 107.4, uses this radio station to give damning comments, no matter who is involved. Bature as well uses his private newspaper to do same until the two of them had a head-on collision recently.

It is unacceptable for prominent statesman and a senior journalist who are expected to know better, to engage in a battle of insults on the airwaves. The behaviour of Bature and Kennedy Agyapong was unfortunate and should be condemned by the very society they were misleading. To throw caution to the wind and descend into the gutters is an abomination.

To throw away the ethics of the noble profession and resort to such a primitive and barbaric behaviour in the name of freedom of expression demands national apology. Even if Bature and Kennedy were staunch enemies, that was not the appropriate platform to display their energies.

The media are said to be the fourth realm of the estate. This involves newspaper editors, journalists, radio and television presenters, et cetera. The three arms of government – the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary - aside, the media follow. I am wondering why the National Media Commission (NMC), Ghana Journalists Association [GJA], Private Newspapers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), senior journalists and all the deep throats in the media have remained dead silent in this very case.

The maturity level of every person who hosts or contributes to programmes on air should be of paramount interest to all and sundry. In any kind of discourse (be it radio or television) that takes place, tolerance, decency, and seasoned statements are what we should be looking out for from the host and the panelists. Sensible statements would help to knit a broken society together.

The fact that one owns a television or radio station or has an opportunity to contribute on any platform in our society does not allow anyone to revenge or say anything they like in any fashion. It could be that such people who make unguarded statements have lost their morals right from their infancy. They need to learn to behave well because their words reveal what they really are made up of and not their substance.

There is no need setting a bad precedent for the youth, who are the future leaders of this country, to emulate. The platform these two men used was totally wrong.  The wisest thing for them to  do  is to bow down their heads in shame and apologize to the good people of this beautiful country called Ghana.

By Rose Asamoah

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