Communications Minister calls for responsible journalism

Accra (Greater Accra), 31st May 99 -

The Minister of communications, Mr. John Mahama on Friday expressed dissatisfaction about a trend in journalism where public officials especially those of the NDC are reported dead whenever they are sick.

A statement issued and signed by Mr.Mawutodzi Abissath, Public Relations Officer of the ministry, was reacting to a story in an Accra private weekly, on the death of Miss Sherry Aryeetey, managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries.

'' This current false report on Miss Aryeetey, who is also the vice chairperson of the NDC is just an example of a disturbing trend in journalism creeping into the Media''

In the past, several government officials including Captain Kojo Tsikata and Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi were falsely reported dead.

According to the statement, recently, news was circulated to the effect that the President had died of a heart attack at the time when he was in the Brong Ahafo going about his official duties.

The Minister pointed out that traditional report of death in our society are handled with a lot of care and called for diligent steps to verify information even when deaths are confirmed.

Care should also be taken to ensure that sensibility of the bereaved family are not hurt in the way the news is released.

It called on the National Media Commission and the Ghana Journalist Association to take steps to check this development which it said amounts to" premeditated cruelty'' against concerned individuals and their family.

GRi?/