Media cautioned against unscientific polls

THE media have been urged to guard against coming out with unscientific and politically manipulated opinion polls as the December elections approach.

The Brong Ahafo Deputy Regional Director of CHRAJ, Mr Kwabena Adjei Arhin who made the call, said such opinion pools tend to distort the political picture and prepare the minds of the electorate to reject results that do not go in their favour.

Mr Adjei- Arhin was speaking on the topic: “the citizen, constitution and human rights” at a day’s seminar on ensuring peaceful , free and fair elections for journalists and party representatives in the Brong Ahafo Region at Sunyani on Wednesday.

The seminar, which was organised by the International Pen, an association of writers and sponsored by DANIDA attracted about 40 participants.

Mr Adjei-Arhin noted that the role of the press is crucial to the development of democracy and must therefore be as impartial as possible.

Opening the seminar, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional minister, Alhaji Kawdwo Maama Adam said the theme for the occasion, ‘Towards peaceful and fair elections, the role of the writer’ was very appropriate in view of the role the media play in ensuring clean elections.

The minister also noted that the entire populace must be in a position to assist the media in ensuring peaceful, free and fair elections.

Alhaji Maama called on journalists to be circumspect in their reportage and eschew sensationalism and personification of issues and also the tendency of trivialising and over simplification of important events and issues.

The President of International Pen, Mr F. Mackay Anim-Appaih noted that the nation has reached a stage in its political history where everybody should respect each other’s opinion even when they differ.

In his presentation on the topic ‘Reporting Elections’, the acting General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association and Secretary of International Pen, Mr Frankie Asare-Donkoh said the success of the December elections would greatly depend on how the media help the electorate to make an informed choice.

He reminded them that much as their reportage can bring peace, it could also result in conflict and even war, something they must fight to prevent.

Mr Twumasi- Awuah, a Sunyani private legal practitioner, who spoke on the topic, ‘The press and the law’, said Article 163 of the 1992 Constitution makes it mandatory and not permissive for media practitioners to ensure that all parties and candidates in the electoral process are given fair access by the state-owned media.

Mr Twumasi-Awauh advised the media to desist from the publication of libellous materials to avoid expensive lawsuits.