Useless Questions And The Woes Of A Columnist

“Freedom to live as one chooses is one of the most valuable freedoms, but so is the freedom to criticise. — Justice Tugendhat, a British Judge

When I was growing up and started writing articles for the GHANAIAN TIMES many years back, one thing I treasured most was the freedom to express myself without the editor of the paper for which I wrote for making any attempt to limit my freedom to express myself. Indeed at that time many articles usually had an 'editor's note' as follows: 'The views expressed in the article are not necessary those of the editorial board.'

What this meant was that so long as an article was not libelous, the editor will pass it for publication no matter how extreme the views expressed and the degree of disagreement the editorial board has with the contents of the article.

At that time, the Night Editor of GHANAIAN TIMES was Abraham Kutin-Mensah, a cousin of mine who encouraged me a lot to write for the paper.

During those days, private newspaper hardly existed and the electronic media was monopolized by Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. Many persons who were practicing journalism had never had formal education in journalism and had learnt the trade on the job from great gurus of the profession, who were themselves self-made journalists.

Despite the lack of formal professional training in journalism, the practice of journalism was crucial to national life. Reading the newspaper was a joy. As a pupil of United Middle School, Adansi Brofoyedru, I had the enthusiasm to be a member of the Junior Graphic Club.

Those days, the afternoon commentaries on GBC were something we all looked forward to with much expectation. The old African Service of GBC was a treasure hold of information and education. The only source of intelligent discussion of national and international affairs was the weekly Sunday GBCTV programme: 'Talking Point.'

British Broadcasting Corporation catered for the sophisticated as well as those in society whose thirst for information and knowledge could not be satisfied by GBC. At that time all radio broadcasting was on short wave and FM broadcasting did not exist.

Today, things have changed dramatically. Many schools of journalism have sprung up. The number of FM stations which have replaced short wave broadcasting is high, and it is difficult to keep up with the pace. Many TV stations and newspapers have also come into existence, some of which in a civilized democratic dispensation would have disappeared from the local scene the very day they were born.

The development is good for democracy. Can anybody imagine the state of the nation under this incompetent, corrupt and criminal John Dramani Mahama NDC administration if the only existing radio station was GBC and the only newspapers were the DAILY GRAPHIC  and GHANAIAN TIMES of old, all state-owned but government controlled.

However, the growth of the media landscape has also brought in its trail the problem of credibility and professionalism in the practice of journalism. Today many toddlers with no sense of decency and who are still sucking their mother's breast milk, or old evil dwarfs with blood shot eyes, are spewing epithets that do not conform to morale fibre of the society of old because they have access to the editorial table or the microphone.

But who can blame them.
In this political era babies with sharp teeth indulge in the unholy game of insulting personalities whose shoes they are not even fit to polish. They have hijacked the governance of the state. Today, it is good the criminals have realized the work of these miscreants, who turned their filthy tongue lashing on the people in the same bankrupt political establishment.

They have joined the sensible public to condemn them.

Today, the practice of journalism in this country, like many other human endeavours, is on trial. There are too many educated illiterates, semi-educated, half-baked and ill-trained persons in the society who are at the helm of affairs in this country destroying the whole nation. Not least among them are journalists and politicians. In the mornings when I listen to the FM stations I find it hard to believe how both our journalists and politicians make fools of themselves in the way interviews are conducted, questions are posed and answers given.

It is an entire crazy regime. All these are happening because our politicians and persons in charge of national affairs have failed to do the right thing by combing the role of the Media Commission and the National Communication Authority under one roof and one board and giving that board sanctioning powers.

Indeed a student from the University of Ghana can afford to buy roasted plantain and groundnuts by the road side in full glare of the public on the university campus without raising any eyebrows but it will be an abomination for the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana to be seen openly  indulging in the same act as the student.

As a matter of fact