Cowards can’t be Journalists - Kwame Osei Tutu

New host of the morning show on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM, Kwame Osei Tutu, has called on the media fraternity to be bold in keeping their ‘watchdog’ role rather than becoming docile and timid lap-dogs who pamper policy makers rather than keeping them in check.

“The media is not a field for persons who are not bold, and in my view, Ghanaian media practitioners, especially we trained journalists, must be bold, courageous and fearless to hold those in authority accountable for their stewardship, else the development of our country will remain stagnant as we have witnessed over the decades,” Kwame Osei Tutu told NEWS-ONE.

The seasoned broadcast journalist made the comment when explaining to NEWS-ONE the mindset with which he would be hosting the Rainbow morning show from this morning.

He said the station transmits live to the UK and other parts of the world; therefore his morning show would be having an international audience in mind and be interacting live with Ghanaians in the Diaspora.

Adding, “And we need the boldness to say things just as they are and ask the appropriate questions to the right people and demand the right answers. Currently, what I see is that many media practitioners are only enjoying the freedom the 1992 Constitution gives to the media but we have largely relegated to the background the responsibility of the watchdog role placed on us. And this is simply due to the lack of courage and boldness on our part.”

“If journalists continue to harbour fear and lack of courage, people in leadership positions will be tempted to take the nation for a ride,” he said.

Kwame Osei Tutu has over 12 years experience in broadcast journalism. He was formerly Head of News for Hello FM in the Ashanti Region, News Editor for Capital TV, Host of the morning show of Pluzz FM and also hosted the ‘OpiiNion’ political talk show on Channel 5 TV.