Some Ghanaian Media And Politicians Are Greedy Distance Siblings

The media plays a very standout role in every democratic dispensation and it’s often regarded as the fourth arm of government. Most politicians are perceived to be corrupt and greedy and the work of some media houses in Ghana is portraying a picture which proves that they are in bed with some politicians to achieve their parochial interest and I have no other way to describe them than “greedy distance siblings”.

As much as we criticize our politicians for their frequent usage of foul languages on the waves, the media is equally to be blamed. Being a politician is gradually becoming a profession for many Ghanaians because it’s the easiest way of making money and you will easily rise to the horizon when you are an expert in the use of provocative words.

The media will assist such people by creating a platform that will allow ignorant politicians to spew their bigotry views on national issues. It was very annoying that after the devastating national disaster has brimmed the capital city, some media houses started calling the communication directors of NPP and NDC when we had the meteorologist and town planners. Alas! The voice of the reasoning and experts was not heard. CNN and Aljazeera will never interview the communication director of the Democrats or Republican, they resort to experts and erudite government officials on issues of national interest. What happened over the weekend between Dr Serebour and an NDC communication member was very unfortunate. The verbal venom regurgitated by Dr Serebour was borne out of the annoyance at which the NDC communication member was discussing the issue of the striking doctors.

One could sense the level of ignorance in his argument but yet he was given the platform to talk when we have labor relations experts and a minister of labor in the country. Albeit I condemn Dr Serebour’s outburst because a disciplined hen does not lay eggs in public, he could have done better than what he did. There are so many media houses owned by politicians and they turn to serve their paymasters, yes! The existence and ownership of media houses may be good for democracy but we shouldn’t forget that Democracy is part of the many imported goods we consume in this country.

Democracy is good but it shouldn’t take away our common sense and manners. These days some journalist request for money before you get your issue published, how different is that from the corrupt politicians? We all have roles to play in the development of Ghana and the media must be the mouth piece of the poor, neglected and oppressed ones. In this vein, playing an independent role as a media helps to enhance your impact on the development of our Ghanaian society than can ever been achieved in serving a paymaster.

If our media houses begin to serve the interest of politicians, this country will be darkened because the corrupt acts of politicians may not come to light again. It is very shocking to see newspapers reporting the fall of a wizard on a roof in Madina on their front pages and when Mr Tobinco builds a school worth millions of cedis for school children in Volta Region no newspaper reports it. We celebrate evil and vilify the good things in society.

The media must wake up and play a neutral role and that will make them effective in the dispatch of their responsibilities in national development. Notwithstanding this, there are so many media houses and journalist who are doing professional work. They expose corruption and bring to light the deplorable conditions some Ghanaians are living in. God richly bless those media houses and journalists, your names shall not only be written in books but on the hearts of the many whose lives have been touched through your work. Trust me, the Ghanaian media and politicians have one judge, POSTERITY and we the young ones are watching them. God bless Ghana. “We are not children of a lesser god”

Ntenhene Felix
( [email protected] )
KNUST.