Performance of Media Disappointing -Ohene

Ms. Elizabeth Ohene, Minister for Media Relations has expressed disappointment about the performance of the Ghanaian media in the area of information management and editing of stories.

She said the current trend journalists have adopted in the country is doing a very great damage to the nation and would virtually spell its doom.

Ms. Ohene was delivering a lecture on the topic "Press Freedom" in Accra on Tuesday. It was organised by the Busia Foundation to educate the public on issues governing both the media and the public.

The Minister noted that most broadcasters exhibit their ignorance by their inability to pronounce African names correctly, a situation she said, "is very disgraceful if B.B.C broadcasters can pronounce African names better than we do."

Ms. Ohene said, since the media have the responsibility to educate the public, they should be thoroughly vested in the profession and should also have the talent of writing in order not to lead the public astray.

A good journalist should have the ability to depict what exist around and distinguish between news, comments, facts and opinions, she said.

When the lines are drawn clearly it would keep the public well informed and readers could assess the article and pass their own judgement. She called on the media to avoid misquoting and be abreast with the work to cope with press freedom.

Ms. Ohene said since the media was accorded the freedom to operate, it was expected of it to give the public what is considered worthy of reading. She said the right to freedom of expression, does not give the media licence to publish a statement that is libelous to the liberty of the citizens.

She therefore cautioned the media to be circumspect in their writing in order not to end up destroying peoples reputation.