NDC MPs criticise GTV Breakfast Show

Members of Parliament were divided about the conduct of the Ghana Television "Breakfast Show" programme with the Minority side expressing their misgivings about the way the newspaper review segment was conducted. The Majority side on the other hand was of the view that the programme and its hosts have been fair in their views and opinion on topical issues.

This followed an Urgent Statement made in Parliament on Wednesday by Mr. Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South on the conduct of the GTV Breakfast-Show programme with particular reference to the newspaper review segment.

Mr. Kedem said the segment has deteriorated so much that many people have come to consider it a blemish on the Breakfast Show. He said by and large, the review segment has become so compromised and sometimes so scandalous that it has become a platform sometimes to peddle blatant lies and vicious rumours and for practising "muck-racking" journalism.

Kedem said it has also become a platform for projecting a parochial agenda, castigate, insult, destroy and assassinate the character of innocent people who do not have the opportunity to defend themselves.

"Above all, it is unfortunate that a section of the society has come to see the segment as a fertile ground for self-seeking and self-righteous journalists who want to advertise themselves or attract government's attention for positions and favours".

He said no wonder some of them seem to have succeeded in becoming board members, ambassadors, special assistants and even ministers of state while others are also beneficiaries of scholarship schemes and annual Yuletide gifts.

Mr. Kedem said in the name of freedom and independence of the media, some of the panellists use the segment to settle personal scores and recklessly "strip naked" their victims and they boast of this unprofessional behaviour openly on air and in public with unbelievable confidence and audacity.

He said what was surprising and indeed inexplicable was the fact that sometimes the host/hostess takes sides and any panellist who dares to disagree or check this journalistic atrocity is mercilessly cut short by the hostess/host with an authoritative, no nonsense arrogant exclamation, "I am the boss here".

"There are many Ghanaians who enjoy the Breakfast Show programme and therefore nobody is calling for its abrogation. Rather, all that Ghanaians are calling for is for its modification or re-orientation of the newspaper review segment to conform to Ghanaian sense of decency, fair play and justice".

Mr. Kedem appealed to the Ghana Journalists Association, the National Media Commission and the management of GBC-TV to intercede and let sanity and fair play guide the proceedings of the newspaper review segment of the show.

Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, NPP- Nsuta Kwamang said the accusation was unfortunate since the staff of GCB were doing a yeoman's job with an unbiased mind. He said the Journalists need every encouragement after the various traumas they had gone through over the years by being gagged. Mr. Osei-Pempeh said the statement was unfair to the hosts, GTV and the panellists and to all Ghanaians and called for its condemnation.

Mr. Joseph Darko-Mensah, NPP-Okaikwei North said the statement was shocking and seems to come from a parochial political stance and was an exhibition of the hate towards the hostess.

Mr. Francis Agbotse, NDC - Ho West said the hostess/host of the GBC programme often arrogates certain powers as against the Metro Good Morning Show where the panellists have an open mind to discuss issues.

Mr. Isaac George Amoo, NPP_ Ayawaso West-Wuogon said the various media houses have contributed to democratic governance in the country and so they have to encouraged to do much better.

Mr. Kofi Attor, NDC-Ho Central said it was unfortunate that some of the hosts choose particular newspapers that have negative news contents to highlight and castigate some people who have no access to defend themselves. He suggested that GBC should either extend the time of broadcast to allow for listeners to have the opportunity to react to issues that might concern them or be allowed to phone-in to respond.

Mrs. Agnes Sonful, NPP-Amenfi West questioned why the programme was being condemned at this time when it has been in existence over the past years and whether it was because it was no more favouring certain people.

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, NDC- Kumbungu said the statement was a balanced one as it tried to point at a particular stance and as MP's they should soberly reflect on it and not let the debate generate into political biases. He said the programme breaches the constitutional rights of the individual that states that" all state-owned media shall afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions".

Minister for the Interior, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, said the debate following the statement seems as if somebody was directing it at some end to achieve an agenda. He advised GBC to repackage the programme to reflect the newfound democratic freedoms and called on those who have problems with the programme to channel their grievances to the Media Commission for redress.