Attacks on NMC in Ghana unfair – Clement Apaak
A former member of the National Media Commission (NMC) says attacks on the Commission for allowing intemperate language in media are unfair.
According to Dr Clement Apaak, the Commission is doing enough to curtail media practitioners from abusing the airwaves but it is not getting the needed backing from media houses.
“I don’t think we are being fair to the NMC in Ghana. There are limitations to what NMC can do, but it is doing its best to address the challenges in the country,” he said on Joy FM’s news discussion programme Ghana Connect.
Montie FM case:
The NMC has come under severe attacks following the unguarded rants of two panelists and host of Pampaso programme on Accra-based Montie FM.
The panelists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn are alleged to have threatened to murder justices of the Supreme Court (SC) if its ruling in a case regarding the electoral roll brought by a former National Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan and Evans Nimako does not favour the Electoral Commission (EC).
This resulted in the two panelists and the host, Salifu Maase popularly known as Mugabe and the radio station dragged to SC on contempt charges. They are due to re-appear before the judges on July 27 for the ruling.
The NMC was attacked because many believe it has reneged on its duties of reigning in journalists who go against their professional confines.
Speaking on the issue, Dr Apaak said the NMC is working on getting the broadcasting bill passed so as to regulate some of these intemperate languages on the nation’s airwaves.
He said when the Bill is passed by Parliament, the Commission will have a lot more powers to crack the whip on media houses that refuses to control their presenters.
But former Education Minister under the erstwhile Kufuor administration, Elizabeth Ohene, says both the National Communication Authority (NCA) and the NMC are to blame for the media disregard for rules of engagement.
“The NCA doesn’t do its work well. They give out frequency but fail to monitor what is being discussed on some of these frequencies,” she said.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers