No analyst can disparage work of NMC-Blewu

Ho, April 12, GNA - Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Friday observed that, the role of the Ghana Media Commission (NMC) on the media landscape cannot be disparaged by any objective analyst.

He said the NMC remained a crucial ligament, linking the 1992 constitution's philosophy of a free and responsible media and media practice standardization in the country.

Mr Blewu was reacting to suggestions by participants at a Media Development Forum (MDF) in Ho that, the NMC was ineffective.

He said the perception that the NMC was often ignored by erring journalists and media managers was erroneous.

Mr Blewu, who did not give figures, said the NMC, exercising its mediatory role had settled many disputes between media organizations and individuals or groups, which otherwise would have resulted in long litigations at the courts.

The two-day event, under the theme, "The Responsibility of the Broadcaster in Promoting Free Speech in a Democracy", was organized by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), under its Ghana Media Standards Improvement Project (GMSIP).

Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, Acting Head of Communication Studies, University of Ghana and Professor Kwame Karikari, MFWA Executive Director, both resource persons, agreed that the NMC was not meant to be overly supervisory and that it must be accorded respect by journalists.

Mr Yaw Owusu-Addo, Director of Radio, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), said the NMC had acted aptly to settle disputes between the GBC and aggrieved persons.

Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, GMSIP Coordinator said the project, crafted to develop a culture of investigative and analytical journalism in Ghana, was launched nearly a year ago by the MFWA in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) with sponsorship from the Danish Embassy in Accra.

She said eight rural radio stations and four newspapers would be selected for training programmes, to improve standards.

Ms Ajoa-Yeboah-Afari said the Media Development Forums were platforms for media self-examination, as well as the exchange of ideas with the public, to advance the profession.

Professor Kwame Karikari, observed that verifiable consensus among arms of governance in Ghana, to deepen freedom of expression, should serve as impetus for media professionals to raise media performance standards.

He said this was a welcome development, against the backdrop of animosities and curtailments, which characterized the media scene in the past.

The forum was attended by managers of radio stations from the Eastern and Volta regions.

GNA