FM Radio Station presenters urged to observe journalism ethics

Mr. Charles Koomson, Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), has called on private radio station presenters and newscasters to ensure that they abide by the ethics of the journalism profession.

He stressed that journalism was a noble profession that dwelt on truth, but decried that, of late some radio presenters, mostly those in the employment of private stations had been too sensational to the extent of mutilating the truth.

The GNA Regional Manager was the guest speaker at the inauguration of a newly-formed journalists’ club at Sacred Heart Junior High School (JHS) at the school’s premises at Penkwase in Sunyani.

He expressed disgust at the way some radio newscasters presented news items, noting that some of them laced their presentations with “unwanted or unnecessary” proverbs and anecdotes that rendered the news unethical to the profession.

Mr. Koomson suggested the need for owners of FM radio stations to employ trained journalists to handle their stations to avoid such “nuisance reportage” which, he said, was gradually drifting the practice of journalism in the country “into the gutter”.

The regional manager who in previous times had covered Ghanaian military peace-keeping operations, particularly ECOMOG operations in Liberia, among other areas, shared his rich experiences with the young students and urged them to be courageous if they really wanted to take up the journalism career in future.

He explained that journalism profession, as the fourth estate of the realm after the executive, legislature and the judiciary, performed the watch-dog role to ensure the Constitution of the land was strictly adhered to.

He commended Mr. Ben Kusi, a teacher of the school and initiator of the formation of the Club, as well as the Headmistress and management of the school for their initiative and urged them to sustain it.

Mr. Kusi, who is President of the Club, explained he had had interest in journalism since his school days and decided to form the club to mentor the kids to start their future careers.

He said the club, inaugurated on January 9, last year, had a membership of 45, an editorial board and four executive members, comprising the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.

Mrs. Theresa Oppong Kyeremaa, headmistress of the school, who presided, commended the students for exhibiting a good start, as Master Kwasi Boateng led in mock news broadcast about BECE results, child labour, bush-burning and an interview with a Sky FM radio station presenter on global warming and climate change by Ms. Millicent Akolgo.