Military Experts and Security intelligence have warned Ghanaian Journalists against what they perceive to be irresponsible professional practises that tend to undermine the security and unity of the nation.
“Freedom, duties and obligations in journalism are bed fellows laid on the foundation of objectivity, factuality, neutrality and fairness, which must not be sacrificed on the alter of political party interest,” the officers stated in an interview in Accra.
They said the repealing of the criminal libel laws is not a licence for unguided and irresponsible reportage and commentary and observed that some recent journalistic practices are potential ingredient for social disorder and destabilisation and urged Journalists to be mindful of the weight of intelligentsia report.
They noted, “Such irresponsible reportage of security information had affected and disrupted intelligent gathering and tracking,” stressing that “even in this information technological world the Journalists is not ahead of the Military and other security agencies in intelligent tracking.
“This you people must know and recognise your limits, as very soon we would crack down on Journalists who interfere with security operations and leak security information to the public.”
Military Experts – both serving and retired officers of Ghana Army, Ghana Police and some from Security Intelligent Institutions have cited recent reports about bloody Coup plots, the Boom speeches, Call for early elections and the handling of phone-in-programmes on radio and television as unfortunate.
In all these cases and other similar ones, the Journalists involved displayed serious lack of knowledge and understanding in handling security information and its implications on the unity of the country.
The Experts advised Journalists and the general public to seek security advise on reportage of intelligent information before it is put in the public area. On the reportage of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) the Experts expressed concerned about some reportage which seems to portray an orchestrated attempt to incite the public against the military and other security agencies.
They reminded Journalists of the purpose of NRC, which was to unit and heal the wounds of both perpetrators and victims. Although the Officers regretted some events in the past they cautioned against attempts to heal the wounds of the victims and inflict new pains on the perpetrators.
Recently the General Secretary of Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), Mr. Atukwei Okai also expressed similar sentiments and suggested that Ghanaian Journalists should be hold responsible for any social unrest in the country.
"If journalists and social commentators failed to be circumspect, objective, truthful and factual in their reportage in line with the sensibility of the cultural norms of the country, and inflame passions, discontent leading to social disorder, they should be hold responsibly for it," Mr. Okai stated.
Mr. Okai, expressed the sentiments when he delivered the keynote address at the first Matriculation ceremony of the African Institute of Journalism and Communications (AIJC) in Accra, and hinted his intentions to propose a private membership bill before parliament to make it mandatory for journalists to be liable for social disorder.
Citing the Rwandan genocide in 1994, which was incited by journalists, Mr. Okai said the political and communications terrain in the country demands legislation to protect national integration.
Speaking in poetry language that he is noted for, Mr. Okai also recognised the vital role of journalists in the social economic transformation of the country and entrenchment of democracy, however, "we need to recognise that there is no absolute power."
The PAWA General Secretary noted the need for advancement in the quality of products of communicators, stressing, "you are the people who are looked to, to interpret the time and season to the ordinary person to understand, set the agenda for society, politicians, and policy makers to follow."
This demands that journalists must be equipped with modern technical skills and machinery to properly process information for easy dissemination to the ordinary man in a fast growing and demanding world.
