Role of Media critical for Election 2012 - President Mills

President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday said the role of the Media, Judiciary, Industrial Relations and Chieftaincy would serve as critical complement to Electoral Commission’s mandate for peaceful elections.

He explained that the ability of the Judiciary to settle election disputes expeditiously would be a big plus for the forward march of Ghana's democracy, while the media, “Polarised or not; aligned or not; biased or not; the Ghanaian media has a responsibility to work to preserve Ghana’s democracy.”

“I have confidence in the ability of my brothers and sisters in the media to rise to the occasion,” President Mills stated in the State of the Nation Address to Parliament in Accra.

He tasked the media to purge itself of the perception of polarisation, alignment and bias, stressing that journalists have to speak for itself through its deeds.

President Mills said the state of industrial relations in an election year especially escalating labour demand creates industrial tension, which ultimately proved very costly economically to the nation.

He said Government tasked the tripartite partners to consider national interest during labour negotiations this year and ensure that they created the kind of labour environment that would engender peaceful elections and post-election stability.

President Mills said the security services had been tasked to be proactive in dealing with those who for reasons of political expediency might want to escalate chieftaincy disputes and ethnic conflict, stressing: “We have had our fair share of these problems in some parts of the country.

“In some instances they have resulted in loss of lives and destruction to property…Whatever be the case, we expect this year’s elections to be free and fair, free from fear, transparent and with the results acceptable and accepted by all.

“We as a Government will do all in our power to support the Electoral Commission to ensure these. And whatever the security challenges, we will not be found wanting. The sovereign will of the people will reign supreme.”

President Mills reiterated his clarion call for peace, stressing “I am happy the leadership of the political parties are responding to the call I have sounded over the years.

“I am also glad that those who did not see the need to pray for peace are now praying for peace. I hope however, that we show proof of genuine commitment to peace by our utterances and actions.

“Let us all remember that the stability we enjoy as a country can turn instantly to brittleness if we fail to be circumspect and if we fail to hold in check those who may want to hold the country to ransom.”