AAG to organise tutorials for political parties

The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has expressed grave concern over campaign advertisement by political parties during general elections, pledging it would organise ethical tutorials for the parties to moderate the already charged atmosphere.

Mr Joel E. Nettey, Vice President of AAG gave the assurance when the Executive Council of the Association paid a courtesy call on Mr Fritz Baffour, Minister of Information and NDC Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, in Accra on Friday.

He said the Association would soon roll out a programme for political parties to “Walk them through the rudiment of what good advertising is.”

Speaking to journalists at the end of the courtesy call, Mr Nettey said the roll out would be done to appeal to the senses and good conscience of the political parties.

He urged media houses to be vigilant and say no to political parties who might want to use their network platforms to broadcast insults and intemperate language.

Earlier during the courtesy call on the Minister, Mr Nettey said the Association was in the process of completing the preparation of a drafted Bill for consideration by Parliament to establish an Advertising Council which could efficiently and effectively regulate the advertising landscape.

He reiterated concerns raised by the public over the unethical use of children in advertising as well as the promotion and marketing of alcohol through the media, stressing the establishment of an Advertising Council by parliamentary enactment would help address the issues.

The association called on the Sector Minster to support them to acquire a site they had found in Accra close to the TV3 Network, a private television station, for their Secretariat.

Mr Baffour called on AAG to organise a stakeholders’ conference for players in the communication and civic education industry to make meaningful inputs in the proposed drafted Advertising Council Bill.

He lauded the association for their intentions to organise a forum to instruct political parties on ethical forms of advertising messages.

Mr Baffour said as a media practitioner, he had witnessed two wars, namely Rwandan and Liberian wars, adding they were caused by hated speech and media appendages.