Media asked to give equal access to all political parties.

Accra, April 25, GNA - Ghana's political parties on Thursday enjoined the media, particularly the state-owned, to give equal access to all political parties as the country approached general elections. They also exhorted the media to exhibit neutrality in their reportage of political activities, show circumspection in their critique of politicians in order not to give unfair advantage to a particular party.

The parties presented these views at a forum organized by the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation to address the concerns of fairness of media coverage of political activities in the country.

The forum was held on the topic: Media Coverage of Presidential Primaries; Any Lessons for Election 2008?, and it was under the Chairmanship of Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a lecturer at the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA)

Mr. David Ampofo, Communication Director of Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Flagbearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP)said "every political party should be treated equally. The media should present a level playing field for all parties. And this could be done by observing the ethics of the profession".

He advised the media not to channel the influence it wielded into destroying the reputations of politicians, but to show circumspection in their critiques and focus more on ideas and solutions that would propel the country forward.

Mr. Kofi Anyidoho, Communications Director of Professor John Atta Mills, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate called on the media, especially the state-owned ones to "stay in the middle" of politics, be fair and present equal access to the print and the airwaves to all parties.

"The state-owned media should balance their act and should not give a particular political party undue advantage over others", he said. Dr. Arthur Kennedy, Communications Director for Nana Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party's presidential candidate tasked the media to focus on issues rather than "insults".

In a speech read for him, Dr Kennedy said, "Let the press focus on the problems of ordinary people rather than the caricatured lives of candidates.

"In the end, elections should be about the future, not the past. Let them expose politicians who will pander for votes rather than ponder our problems", he said.

Ms. Frances Esiam, National Vice Chairperson of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) pleaded with the media to live up to the ethics of the profession, saying, "We should be celebrating our democracy in December 2008 and not recreating it like other countries are doing". Dr. Antwi-Danso, exhorted the media to shape the institutions of governance for the electorate to have trust in them and for democracy to thrive.

"If trust in institutions of governance was taken away and if institutions of governance failed then democracy also fails", he said. Dr. Antwi-Danso warned the media that they should be very careful in covering political events and in their comments because many wars fought in the world were sparked by journalists. Those present included members of NMC, heads of state owned media organisations and senior editors.