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14.12.2009 Feature Article

Haroun Idrisu, what goes round comes around

Communications Minister Haruna IddrisuCommunications Minister Haruna Iddrisu
14.12.2009 LISTEN

It sounded very strange reading a story on Myjoyonline in which the Communication Minister Haruna Idrisu, was reported to have reminded newly graduands of the Ghana Institute of Journalism[GIJ] that they were journalists and not spokespersons.

Immediately I read the story the question that came to mind was when did he, a learned person realize that and now want to advice young journalists not to be spoke persons for certain persons? Or it was just a speech drafted for him to read by his speech writers like we usually to observe therefore he had to go ahead and read it?

Let me give him the benefit of the doubt by saying that he has observed the rate at which certain renowned journalists in the country have been serving as spokes persons for certain people and the impact they are making by keeping the president, the government, its ministers including him and all institutions on their toes so far as running of the country is concerned.

No wonder such a nice looking young politician will come and address his young graduate journalists warning them not to turn themselves into spokes persons but remain journalists, the import I haven't still gotten clear yet.

Has Haruna Idrisu, the national youth organizer of the ruling party in government [NDC] forgotten how he himself tried to turn some practicing journalists into spoke persons for himself and the party he is a staunch member of during the campaign period?

Haruna Idrisu, has forgotten how he managed to surround himself with very good journalists in the Eastern Region especially Koforidua to do his PR work for him.

There are clear evidence that the NDC won the 2008 general elections because of the way it managed to capture the press both the state owned and a number of private press where certain allegations which could not be substantiated and up till now cannot be substantiated were made against the then president Mr. J.A. Kufuor, his government, certain ministers and state institutions making the chunk of the electorate to believe that the NPP government was not good therefore calling for change of government.

Have you come to think about the way your party in power the NDC, managed to capture certain journalists and charged them with the role of writing speeches, defending the party vehemently at debate points all to make the electorate accept the party as the obvious choice against the NPP in the last election which despite all the corrupt practices going on under your government they still go around defending it?

What were Kwasi Pratt and other seasoned journalists doing when they strongly joined the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) and went through the country organizing demonstrations in support of the NDC flag bearer at that time Professor Atta Mills bid to win last year's general election?

You have not forgotten the work Mr. Ebo Quansah, and his cronies in other media houses such as the Democrat, Palaver and many more were doing just because they were serving as spokes persons for you[r] NDC party just to make the NPP government ungovernable for your party to take advantage of and you succeeded in that I believe.

Maybe you have realized this time the rate at which most of the private press which you and your government managed to capture to send your campaign message out to the eligible voters whom by that voted for your party are not allowing themselves to be used anymore by filing "he said, he said" stories anymore for you now that you are in government but exposing wrong dealings under your party in administration which is not comfortable for you therefore your attempt to halt to it by tackling the young ones coming.

Journalists these days are more practical with investigations to unearth myths surrounding certain practices, deeds, associations and groupings, occurrences in order to correct wrong impressions and negative effects that go a long way to affect the lives of people and the nation.

Anyone who will do a careful study of the Ghanaian media and the way they function with their reporters or better still for me to say journalists, will realize these days they do not just report something and let it belong to history but keep it for record purposes so that after some time refer to it to assess the performance of those who made those statements

Therefore you should not be surprised that the media [private] have been running stories that are critical of your government's performance in its 11 months stay in office so far. If you were following the broadcasting reports on CNN on the American elections you will see how Wolf Blits and other TV hosts were so critical about Barrack Obama's possible election to become the president of America.

Maybe they were spokespersons for John McCain, but the good people listen to Obama and voted for him despite all the allegations that he was a Muslim, had been in Sudan and was dressed in Muslim apparels. Not even his black descendant could stop him from winning the election.

Ten months after being in office, the same network station after assessing his statements and promises he made during the campaign season was able to realize that certain promises he made have been fulfilled.

Here you go with the latest news on Myjoyonline that the incumbent national chairman of NDC Mr. Kwabena Adjei, has wooed the media to support his bid in seeking re-election as the chairman of the party in the next congress. What does he imply by calling for the support of the media for his bid to retain the national chairmanship position of the NDC?

Your answer is as good as mine. To market him to the would be delegates who will be flooding the congress center to elect a new chairman to vote for him and marketing him is not speaking for him through publishing nice profiles about him.

It is time Haruna Idrisu and his other NDC hawks are made aware that what goes round definitely will come round therefore they should expect the media and for that matter journalists to hold them accountable the way when they were in opposition they held the NPP accountable by using the media and the journalists as spokespersons and it shall continue till thy kingdom come.

Credit: Stephen A.Quaye,Toronto-Canada.

Development / Accra / Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com

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