The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has accepted the apology of the Managing Editor of the Ghanaian Voice, Mr. Dan Ansah, over negative remarks made against him in the paper. Below are the press release from the Office of the Vice President, and a letter from the GJA Ethics Committee on their resolution of the matter.
The Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has accepted the apology of Mr. Dan Ansah, Managing Editor of the 'Ghanaian Voice' over the disparaging remarks his paper made about the Vice President in its front page story of the August 13-16 2001 edition.
The Vice-President said "I have accepted Mr. Ansah's apology and my respect for him or any other Ghanaian journalist for that matter remains unshaken irrespective of what has happened."
Alhaji Mahama noted that like many other professionals, journalist may slip from time to time in their duties but the society owes it as a duty to assist them perfect their act.
The Vice President said politicians and journalists have a sacred duty to uphold and nurture the country's fledging democracy in the most civil and transparent environment possible.
"We can make it if we allow ourselves to be guided by our time-tested traditional values of truth, honesty and respect for our leaders and elders," he said.
The Vice-President thanked the GJA Ethics Committee for the dispatch and wisdom with which they handled the matter.
The GJA Ethics committee after investigating the matter agreed that the story was in bad taste and in serious breach of professional ethics and asked the Editor who is also a member of the National Media Commission to retract the story and apologise to the Vice President and the Government.
Mr. Ansah acknowledged his paper's guilt and the carelessness displayed by his deputy. He has already published an apology and a rejoinder to the story.
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Andrews Awuni
Office of the Vice President
RE: Complaint against "Ghanaian Voice"
Dear Mr. Awuni,
The GJA Ethics Committee met Mr. Dan Ansah, Editor of the "Ghanaian Voice" on August 29, 2001 on the complaint you brought against the paper over the front-page story in its August 13-16 edition, headlined "Are Kufuor's Appointments Free and Fair?"
The Committee agreed that the article was in bad taste, in serious breach of professional ethics and showing unwarranted disrespect towards the presidency. Mr. Ansah could not deny this and accepted the seriousness of the Committee's view.
Mr. Ansah however explained that he was out of the country at the time the article was published but fully acknowledged his paper's guilt and the carelessness displayed by his deputy, who he said he had since sanctioned.
He also confirmed that the paper has since published two apologies and a rejoinder sent by your good self. Mr. Ansah assured the Committee that he was putting in place an administrative mechanism that would ensure that such a thing does not happen again.
The Committee upon these considerations strongly cautioned Mr. Ansah and urged him to let greater professionalism and respect for the high office of the President be evident in his paper.
The Committee will keep greater watch on the paper to ensure that ethical values and overall journalistic standards are maintained.
We appreciate the confidence showed in the GJA Ethics Committee by reporting the matter to us.
Frances Ademola
(Chairman, The GJA Ethics Committee)
