Media Commission condemns publication of picture of dead body

The National Media Commission (NMC) has condemned the publication of a picture on the front page of The Ghanaian Times of Tuesday, August 12, 2014, believed to be the remains of one Peter Tamakloe, who was allegedly murdered by a fetish priest.

A press statement signed by Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the Commission and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday, said the publication was not only in bad taste but also violated the right to dignity of the deceased.

“The National Media Commission wishes to remind the media about Article 7.2 of the NMC’s Print Media Guidelines on grief which states ‘in cases involving bereavement, personal grief or shock, the press must show compassion. Publication must be handled sensitively at such times’ ", the statement said.

The Commission stated that there was no public interest justification for the publication of the picture which contravenes Article 12 of the Ghana Journalists’ Association Code of Ethics.

It further violates Article 16 which states that “in cases of personal grief, distress, journalist should exercise tact and diplomacy in seeking information and publishing”, the statement contended.

“Accordingly, the National Media Commission unreservedly condemns the publication in the Ghanaian Times and calls on the Ghanaian Media to respect the privacy of the bereaved family and the right to dignity of the deceased”, it said.

It can be recalled that on May 19, 2014 the NMC had the occasion to condemn the publication of another photograph under similar circumstances.