After listening to a certain Larry Dogbe of the Enquirer newspaper speak on joynews during its news at 6pm, on the 6th November, 2009, It emerged by my assessment that, the enquirer’s publication on the 6thNovember, 2009 which alleged the former Vice-President his Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama took away some peacocks from the Castle when he was leaving there, was nothing but a clear example of what unprofessional journalism is and also a clear example of gutter journalism!
The fundamental principle of journalism everywhere demands that, persons who become subjects of news stories be listened to as well, especially when there are very direct allegations against them. The other party it is always said must be heard to ensure a very balanced story at the end.
From the Enquirer story, it is very clear the paper was totally out for mischief. Nowhere in that publication did we see the response of the other side. The story is just a continuation of the political witch- hunting and media vilification of ex-government officials that is currently underway in Ghana.
Why on earth should it be that, of all the eight years that he served as Veep for mother Ghana, it is only 3peacocks that pro NDC newspaper paper; the Enquirer can allege he ‘stole on its front page? This is a huge shame to that newspaper and its agents of doom! In any case is the paper saying that, the former Vice-President can not buy peacocks should he need them?
What is even so irritating is that, when even an Aide of the former Vice-President told joy news that, those peacocks were gifts given to the former Vice President some three years ago the enquirer and its lazy journalists were still insisting they ere not gifts! Even though they; who are making the allegations were not ready to prove their allegations yet they were not also ready to accept the facts!
I still remember that, some years ago, in one of his visits to the Central Region, His excellency the former Vice President Alhaji Aliu mahama was given some Peacocks by Isaac Edumadze; the then Central Regional Minister which was captured by some media houses , it beats my imagination that, the Enquirer could not even remember this story. Maybe they are so full with mischief that they have forgotten about this.
The other day when Dr Wireko Brobby, wrote a letter to Raymond; the editor of the Enquirer he stated among other things that, what could be said about Raymond in those days he won awards seem to have given way to a certain kind of journalism that can not win him any award in recent times. I think Dr Brobby was right! It must be explained that, Raymond is the editor of the Enquirer and will have to take some of the blames if jaundiced and malicious stories are allowed into the paper.
There was a proper handing over from the former chief of staff to the new chief of staff of all castle assets including birds and animals which was in the media all over Ghana. Is it not very sad that, 10months into the handing over the Enquirer is publishing such outright garbage as news on its front page? It is known to everybody that, the Mills/Rawling NDC wants to silence every Ghanaian in other to have a field day to misrule the country through wicked stories in their newspapers and radio stations. This is a very sad menace cropping in the country which must be shot down before it blossoms. There is also this tendency of Journalists and other social commentators throwing baseless allegation about and when they are asked to retract those allegations they refuse and insist on it with impudence! I am just imaging how many media houses and social commentators would have being dragged to the nearest court here in the United Kingdom if such unsubstantiated allegations were made either on a newspaper or on a radio programme baselessly!
When I started journalism practice in Ghana in the Mid-90’s, the first advise I was given by one of my admirers was that “Always endeavour to be true with every story you publish, God expect that, everybody should be treated fairly by the media, If you malign people because you can, don’t forget that, on the day of judgement God would question you on why you maligned innocent citizens with lies” Any lessons for the Enquirer and by extension all Journalist and other social commentators?
Even though many people have asked the Enquirer to retract that senseless and baseless story with some asking that, the former Vice-President should even drag the paper to court, I think otherwise; he should leave them to their conscience. There is no creature on this earth that does good or evil and is not aware. God said in the holy Quran that,” he who does an atom weight of good shall see it and he who does an atom weight of evil shall see it too” My Christian friends just told me that, the Bible preaches same as well.
My personal advice to the enquirer is that nothing lasts for ever. Proximity to the castle is not proximity to God. The same people who will set up a newspaper for you today and plant stories in it would abandon you tomorrow when the going gets tough by which time your credibility would have being in question.
Akilu Sayibu UK
Email: Akilu.Sayibu@live.uwe..ac.uk
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