Journalists must take a cue from Mahama’s critique – Adakabre

Adakabre Frimpong Manso, host of Adom FM's morning show Dwaso Nsem, has called on his fellow morning show hosts across the country to take a cue from President John Mahama’s assessment of their work.

He said the president hit the nail right on the head because most morning show hosts focus more on political issues than socio-economic issues confronting Ghanaians.

President Mahama, at a meeting with the executives of Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), senior editors, the Private Newspapers and Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) at the Flagstaff House last Friday, expressed displeasure about how the media has polarised the society on partisan lines.

According to him, the media is gradually losing its role as gatekeepers and is rather playing to the gallery of self-centered politicians who want to outwit each other.

President Mahama urged the media especially morning show hosts to do more research and engage the technocrats who are qualified to speak on issues than the politicians.

On Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Adakabre Frimpong Manso conceded that the format used by radio show hosts is below standard.

He intimated that some hosts lack in-depth knowledge about the issues being discussed because they do little or no research on it - a development he says goes to disadvantage the listeners.

Adakabre bemoaned how some morning show hosts expose their political coloration and set an agenda that will favour their political parties.

The Dwaso Nsem host said the media as a tool for development must be seen to be neutral at all times and serve the interest of the ordinary people in society.

"Posterity will judge us if we (morning show hosts) are not seen to be doing our work and are rather engaging in partisan politics," he said.

Commenting on the quality of the panelists, he explained that most technocrats are reluctant to speak on air for the fear of being vilified by the politicians.

Adakabre Frimpong Manso advised the media to eschew partiality and sensationalism and be professional in what they do.