Safeguard nation's security – NMC to media

The Chairman of the National Media Commission, Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, has reminded media practitioners that they have a duty to ensure the nation’s security is not compromised in this year’s election.

He said people in the industry should get involved to create awareness and undertake advocacy to ensure peaceful elections in 2016.

“First, we need to continually remind ourselves that it is our responsibility to do things that will ensure the progress of the nation in order not to plunge the nation into chaos,” Mr Apenteng told Chief Jerry Forson on Accra100.5fm’s Ghana Yensom Thursday February 11, 2016.

He also revealed during the interview that the commission had ambitions to meet owners of media organisations to discuss the Contents Standards Regulation Law, LI 2224, passed in 2015.

The LI, which according to the NMC, was enacted to protect the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons, has been condemned by many in the industry. The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has dragged the commission to the Supreme Court to have the law interpreted, arguing it is a subtle attempt to reintroduce the Criminal Libel Law through the back door.

The passage of the LI into law sparked wide range condemnation among media watchers and players in the industry amidst threats of court actions against the commission.

But Mr Apenteng is adamant the law would rather enjoin greater responsibility on the part of media practitioners.

He said the NMC intended partnering media owners to sanitise the airwaves ahead of the elections, including the installation of delay equipment to ensure undesirable and incendiary language are filtered.

The commission will also advocate the constant training of media personnel, especially in the use of new platforms like social media.

Mr Apenteng said the meeting would be used to discuss the operationalisation of the new law, so that awareness about the law is increased, while persons, who fall foul of it are sanctioned.