NMC tasked to rate performance of the Media

Accra, April 28, GNA - Dr Michael Whyte Kpessa, Research Fellow of Institute of African Studies, on Thursday called on the National Media Commission (NMC) to institutionalise rating mechanism to the media landscape to induce professionalism, creativity and sanity. "Rating can address most of the challenges facing our media as it will force businesses and Ghanaians to direct their resources to media houses with highest rating.

"Rating will also compel owners of media establishments to employ highly qualified individuals, while sending a signal to existing practitioners that the only way to keep one's job is to excel," Dr Kpessa stated at the 11th annual nationwide Constitution Week celebration in Accra.

He said in a well-institutionalised rating environment, media practitioners and their employers prioritise regular training and capacity building to improve professionalism, encourage innovation and creativity in a bid to outshine their competitors. Dr Kpessa however, accused the Ghanaian media of acquiring an unacceptable power, which was detrimental to the cause of justice. "Valuable airtime and newspaper spaces are devoted to sensationalism and personality politics in the name of free speech as the media has too often allowed social commentators and politicians to use their platforms to create unnecessary tension and acrimony," he added.

He noted the deplorable and sometimes dehumanising conditions under which some journalists and other practitioners were forced to work.

Speaking on 93Ghana's Democratic Development since 1992; Prospects and Deficits," Dr Kpessa said the on-going Constitution Review process provided a new window of opportunities for the nation to look backward and forge a united front for the way forward in the bid to perfect the social contract.

He called for incorporation into the process learning mechanisms and strategies that would enable Ghanaians across time and space to appreciate and uphold the Constitution in high esteem. "We must endeavour to bring alive to the current and future generations through constructive debates and other learning strategies, the processes and work of the Committee of Experts, Consultative Assembly and the various Standing Committees that crafted the Constitution we now celebrate.

"We must use the platforms provided by family, religious organisations, schools, friendship, political parties, and the media to teach the attitudes and values prescribed by the Constitution," Dr Kpessa stated.

On corruption, he called on anti-corruption agencies to broaden their scope to include the lower stratum of society as most of the time they had focused on corruption among public office holders and neglected the pervasive nature among the lower stratum of society. "Those mandated by the Constitution to uproot corruption must provide leadership=85Wars on corruption must go beyond mere platitudes as there is no point in having codes of conduct in public and private institutions, which no one knows about," he said. Dr William Ahadzie, Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority chaired the function whilst Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area was the Special Guest of Honour.