Menu For The Media

AGENDA 2010 - MENU FROM THE MEDIA

To write or talk about the standard of the media in Ghana today is a source

worry for many friends of the inky fraternity. It is quit a difficult one

because of the vicissitudes of the of the media operations since the 1992

constitution became the “Holy Book” of this country.

Some say it has improved, since they were kept in a “cage” for a long time,

others think otherwise. Well; it depends on where you stand. There are three

basic principles of Journalism that I know of; to educate; to inform and to

entertain but what do we see of the media today? It seems the media is taking us

on a journey in their supersonic News jet (Not the Falcon) without any

destination in mind.

I must admit that despite all the setbacks, there are some very good media

personnel who are doing great work.

If one takes a look at most news headlines it look like some media personnel are

becoming like some Ghanaian movie producers and some preachers of the Gospel;

“Give the people what they want” hence the movies and sermons we see on TV or

hear on radio.

It did not come as a surprise when Dr. Vladimir Antwi Danso sum up his

frustrations by declaring that the media is practicing Media “Terrorism”( I will

want to hear his comments on the 15th -16th and 17th -18th edition of the

Informer News Paper)

We are almost through with the year 2010 and if you take a critical look at the

news that took most of our precious time in the print and electronic media one

will not be far from saying another year has almost been wasted. Some will say

we are growing our democracy, if it is so then we have a very long way to go.

Permit me to send you through memories of 2010 which will make movies in 2010

look like child’s play This is PG18

Greedy Bastards - J. J.

Rawlings

Burning of J. J.’s house - Nana Darkwa

Team B players and hangers on - Dr. Spio

Gabrah

Adventures of P.C and the Fante chiefs - P.C Appiah

Ofori

To go or not to go - Her

Lordship (Georgina Wood)

Not “moulding” Good cases for Court - Betty Mould

Iddrisu

Many ways to kill a cat - Dr.

Kwabena Adjei

War of the foot soldiers - Faceless

Gang

Suarez/ Penalty -

Asamoah Gyan and Suarez

The battle of Atiwa - Anita

De-Souza

Bamba boys versus Azorka boys at Atiwa - NPP and NDC

Cars for all -

Carl Wilson

Nana Addo at Fetu Afahye - Nii Lamptey

Vanderpuye

The MPs ratings - Steve

Mallory

Journey to the Far East “STX” - NPP and NDC

Lamentations of GFA and GOC - Nii Lamptey and Sena

Dansua

Kokooase kuraseni - Kobby

Acheampong

The posters - Nana

Konadu

Changing of names - Nicodemus –

AMA

CDH=cocaine Drugs, Hallucination - Nana Addo and Prez.Mills

The Blockbuster; the Voyage of Yutong, a.ka. Amina- Amina Mohammed and Ghana

Police

Need I write more? If we use at least two weeks to premier this “Bulletins”, how

many days will

be left for us to discuss very important issues like, the State of our health

care system,

Education, Mining and Galamsey operations, its’ effect on our environment,

unemployment,

Almighty sanitation and armed robbery etc….. By the way are we aware of Accra

being an Earthquake area and with the population density increasing, the higher

the risk (read Dr. Nii Kwashie Allotey’s articles in the Mirror). How prepared

are we should it happen?

Everything in this country has two faces- NPP and NDC.

It’s time we give bad news that will deepen the division in this country the

black out it deserves.

Now let all media personnel read this quote together “A journalist is the

lookout on the ship of the state he notes the passing sail, the little things of

interest that dots the horizon in a fine weather. He or She reports the drifting

castaway whom the ship can save. He or She peers through the fog and storm to

give warnings of dangers ahead.

He or She is not thinking of his or her wages or the profits of its owners. He

or She is there to watch over the safety and welfare of those who trust in him

or her”.

Thank you, Joseph Pulitzer for this wonderful advice. Hope it will guide us in

the coming years.

Mamoud Mustapha Suarez.