It is so surprising that educated politicians endowed with knowledge and wisdom (doubtful), choose to exercise their freewill so unreasonably. There is this saying that it is only a dead tree trunk that stays at a point even when it eavesdropped humans discussing of how to fell it the next day. Many Ghanaians have received the official announcement by the NDC government in Ghana on Tuesday March 20, 2012 to boycott Multimedia Broadcasting Corporation; owners and operators of a string of media outlets in Ghana as no surprise. It only confirmed a certain assertion. It started years ago like a joke cracked by a famous NDC member, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah describing President JEA Mills' appointees as members of a Team B. Then repeated recently by former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Martin A. K. Amidu who said the government communication team comprises inexperienced and ignoramus. How aptly these assertions fit into the saying that 'a lifeless stick of matches scratched against its coated paper produces a small flame but when left carelessly near an open jar of volatile petrol, causes a conflagration, which can claim life and property.
The hawks and ignoramus are exhibiting spontaneous decision and displaying utter immaturity. This behaviour is not just a dent on the country's image as a place where media freedom to exercise their editorial discretion flourishes. The Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD) has described the action by government as illegal and an affront to democracy. The non-governmental group therefore asked all public and civil servants to disregard the government order. It said this amounts to capricious use of discretionary power and warns Ghanaians to be wary of such action because it is a threat to the constitution.
What is the background to all this? On February 22, 2012, Asempa FM’s flagship programme “Ekosi Sen” was abruptly ended following a commotion at the station. It was between an NPP member on the panel, Hopeson Adoyeh and the host of the programme, Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah. In direct response, a number of NPP supporters and sympathisers led by the party’s Youth Organiser, Anthony Kabo trooped to the station. The owners of Multimedia subsequently suspended Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah who prior to this incident had been accused of given leverage to the ruling National Democratic Congress communicators to malign the character of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the NPP's standardbearer for the 2012 elections. The NDC government insists that until the management of the group unconditionally reinstates this gentleman on air and a case of bias. On the latter issue, the government has been shifting its position indicating that NDC's beef is really getting their kingpin Kwabena Bobi Ansah back to do their bidding at the station. People have questioned why government would not avail themselves of various avenues like national media Commission, court, Ghana Journalists Association, as provided for in the constitution if the government felt wronged.
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| Suspended Nana Kwabena Ansah of Ekosi Sen Fame |
As weird as this action might appear, I think it offers all of us a great opportunity to reflect and recapture our free press from the control of these two political parties. I have always felt that their continuous presence on our airwaves is depriving us all of getting to know and understanding issues clearly and devoid of political partisan colorization. Of course it is extremely dangerous for government to whimsically and capriciously decide to deny Ghanaians the right to choose which stations to listen to as well as a breach of the constitutional injunction 'about equal access and opportunity' for all Ghanaians. While this actions offend every intent and purpose of the constitution, we have a very good chance to change the way our cacophonous media do their business. The radio and TV stations must get back to their role of agenda setting whereby discerning listening can make informed decisions based on information gathered from listening.
Still, Agya Atta you can't kill a fly with a sledge hammer because a stubborn fly follows the corpse to the grave and December 7, 20012 is the burial date. Please keep your fingers cross and let us continue this discussion beyond December 7. The signal out there this election year is that the NDC government wants to gag any media house it considers as seriously probing their actions and refusing to allow government to dictate to them.
