Radio, TV stations agree to stop post-verdict analyses

Corporate Executives of radio and television stations in the country yesterday pledged not to offer their media platforms for political analyses after the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 presidential election petition.

The decision was arrived at during a meeting with National Security Co-ordinator, Colonel Larry Gbevlo- Lartey (rtd), in Accra.

The agreement, by consensus, forms part of measures to manage the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgment on August 29 and reduce the tension that may rise.

To achieve the aim, the executives and editors also agreed to avoid phone-in programmes and discussions which could question the integrity of the judgment.

The closed-door meeting, which was at the instance of the National Security Co-ordinator, Col. (rtd) Gbevlo-Lartey, was attended by managers of electronic media, editors and the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

It was part of a series of interactions by the National Security outfit and stakeholders, towards sustaining the peace and security, after the ruling.

Mr. Roland Affail Monney, president of GJA, told the newsmen after the meeting that the Security Co-ordinator allowed them to decide on measures to maintain the peace, and did not impose anything on them.

“Among other things, we agreed not to give our platforms to agents of confusion. We reminded ourselves that we have a charge to keep, which is to promote the national interest in what we broadcast” he said.

Describing the interaction as “an operational meeting,” he said the managers appreciated the risky nature of the situation after the ruling, and assured the Security Co-ordinator of their support and contributions to managing the aftermath effectively.

Major (rtd) Albert Don Chebe, Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, also described the meeting as a friendly interaction, noting the Security Co-ordinator was careful not to impose any conditions on the electronic media.

“We all agreed to do what is right, to protect the peace and security of the country, he stated.