President of GJA, Affel Monnie
Dr. David Percy of the defunct National Reform Party (NRP) has indicated that Ghanaian journalists are lazy when it comes to research.
According to him, there are several unnecessary debates on radio and television among political actors which should not be encouraged if only journalists can conduct research or independently verify claims made and present facts to the public.
He contends that independent investigations by journalists will discourage politicians from churning out false information to the public.
Dr. Percy was reacting to the ongoing debate between the New Patriotic Party’s Vice Presidential candidate Mahamadu Bawumia and President John Dramani Mahama over Ghana’s current debt.
Dr. Bawumia is of the view that President John Mahama needs proper briefing on the true state of the country's debt.
His assertion was a direct response to comments from the President underestimating the true state of Ghana’s debt. President Mahama had said it was mathematically impossible for his NDC government to borrow $37 billion since Ghana’s debt stock was $24 billion.
But, Dr. Bawumia challenged the president claiming the actual value of the debt in dollar terms estimated at the dollar value of the debt at the time of borrowing is some $37 billion.
Against this backdrop, Dr. Percy David thinks the media has given too much room for politicians from both NDC and NPP to debate this issue when it can easily research and get the right figures.
According to him, there are a lot of developmental stories that journalists can focus on rather than giving precious airtime to issues which they could easily research and provide factual information to their audience.
