[ 2012-06-23 ]

Gagging The Media
In spite of the role of the media in enhancing
democracy and protecting the public purse against
white-collar kleptomaniacs, practitioners continue
to suffer from deliberate attempts at stifling the
noble occupation.

Indirect machinations by the political
establishment, using state institutions such as
the police to somewhat coerce journalists to
disclose the source of their information, are
becoming the preferred option in the country.

Our occupation is about seeking news and
presenting them to the reading public in
accordance with ethics such as not divulging
details about the source of the information we put
out.

Regardless of the challenges we encounter in the
course of performing our roles, such as the
absence of a 'Right To Information' legislation to
allow us unfettered access to details about
management of the public purse inter alia, we have
soldiered on.

But for such consistency in our resolve, classic
thievery from the public purse would have eluded
public attention and we would have failed to keep
the executive and other arms of government on
their toes.

We will pounce on any development which, in our
estimation, is worthy of bringing to the notice of
the public who voted the executive into power.
This is a sacred duty we would not shirk, the
machinations to throw spanners into the works
notwithstanding.

Without the media, the power of the executive
would have been excessive and arbitrary.

A few days ago, we witnessed a bizarre trend where
some Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
operatives were sent on a wild goose chase for
details of how the Crusading Guide and Daily Guide
newspapers chanced upon two important stories
bordering on graft and misdemeanor. They pitched
camp at the office of Alhaji Abdul Malik Kweku
Baako Jnr and although it was a useless venture,
we are worried about the absurdity being inflicted
by the executive using the police, and the
precedent being established thereby.

We could not suppress the amazement the useless
assignment triggered in us. Alfred Agbesi Woyome
was a guest of the CID when news about his
controversial collection of the unusual judgment
debt hit the newsstands. During the engagement, he
wrote a statement containing important details
which some members of the executive would have
rather were kept under the lid.

In the case of the Benjamin Kunbuor so-called car
firing story, which turned out to be a lie, the
police are ignoring the substantive issue of lying
by a minister and chasing the newspapers which
published the findings of the security agents.

It is an attempt to de-emphasise the real issue,
much to the disadvantage of the state and
therefore the people of Ghana.

Do the police exist to cover or uncover crime?
Otherwise why would the security agents chase
journalists as though highlighting thievery of the
state purse is a criminal enterprise? Ghana under
President Mills is a weird kettle of fish whose
operations are beyond comprehension.

Source - Daily Guide

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