Asoma Banda Pleads: Lets Ban Phone-ins

A Council of State Member and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Antrak Group of Companies, Alhaji Asoma Banda, has made a passionate appeal to all political parties to agree to put an end to phone-ins during political discussions on radio and television.

In an exclusive interview with The Al-Hajj in his office on Monday, Alhaji Banda said, in this election year, people who call into radio discussions should rather talk about issues that will promote the development of the country, not those that will divide us.

“This year’s elections are very crucial to the peace and stabilityy of this country and if we allow what is currently happening on our radio discussions to continue, it could derail the peace that we are enjoying. If we want peaceful elections in 2012, then, we must put an end to phone-in programmes”, he stated.

According to the Antrak CEO, some of those who call into political programmes most often do not talk about the issues under discussions, but rather discuss and disparage personalities without any consideration to their age and status in society, thereby increasing the political temperature of the country.

According to him, Ghana is a model of democracy on the African continent and everything must be done to protect and maintain the peace.

When asked whether putting a stop to phone in programmes will not be an infringement on the rights of callers, Alhaji Asoma Banda said “individual rights must go with responsibilities and if we have identified that such calls do not bring development, we must stop it”.

He appealed to the media not to use headlines that will disturb the peace of the country adding that the Ghana Bar Association, National Peace Council, Religious bodies and all stakeholders must all work hard to maintain the peace of the country.