Responsible journalism was Prez Mills' hallmark – NMC

The National Media Commission (NMC) at the weekend asserted that adherence to responsible journalism was the hallmark of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, which was demonstrated through his total commitment to press freedom.

“The NMC had the privilege to confer with President Mills on two memorable occasions…At each of these meetings; he made the issues of responsible journalism the heart of our discussion.

“In view of this the media has an onerous duty, as we mourn the late President and undergo the transition under our new President John Dramani Mahama, to ensure that the ship of state remains stable,” Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, NMC Chairman stated at Akosombo.

Speaking at a workshop organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs through the Ghana Political Parties Programme for senior media practitioners, politicians, security personnel, academia and civil society actors; Mr Blay-Amihere noted that the President at various stages during his tenure in office expressed serious concerns about negative media trend.

Using the platform to pay tribute to the memory of the late President Mills, the NMC Chairman noted that the emergence of a disturbing display of insults and inflammatory speech in a section of the Ghanaian media has been the concern of the late President.

Mr Blay-Amihere said the late President Mills pledged his total commitment to press freedom but equally underscored the cardinal principle that guarantees press freedom, namely; media accountability or judicious use of free press and free expression.

“When the NMC outlined the many difficulties, particularly deficits in its capacity to fulfill its mandate – the lack of human and capital resources, the poor conditions of our office, poor remuneration for staff…the President there and then authorized the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Information to urgently address the issues,” the NMC Chairman said.

In line with Ghanaian tradition and values in times of mourning, the NMC Chairman said the media cannot afford to be “unGhanaian,” and write articles and headlines that foul the atmosphere and breed rancor, bitterness and divisions.

“Our talk show hosts must be at their gate-keeping best whilst discussants on radio programmes must be careful in their choice of words and language,” Mr Blay-Amihere cautioned.

Speaking on “The role of the Media in Elections,” the NMC Chairman tasked the media to be responsible and adhere to the code of conduct of the NMC, Ghana Journalists Association and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association.**