Media need security protection for Election 2012 coverage – NMC Chair

The National Media Commission (NMC) is seeking special arrangements with the state security agencies to protect media personnel who would be monitoring Ghana’s 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

Chairman of the Commission, Kabral Blay-Amihere, says the freedom and independence of the media must be safeguarded at all cost.

Whilst expecting the media to be guided by professional ethics and responsibility in reporting the polls, he said media houses and personnel would need to be protected against public excesses this electioneering season.

“We don’t want media violations but if there should be such occurrences, the right place to go for resolution is the Media Commission; there is no need for any enthusiastic, overexcited public to resolve issues by either matching to newsrooms or radio stations and we’re hoping the Police will be up to defend our media personnel as they undergo their functions”, said Ambassador Blay-Amihere. “In the same way we expect the media to show a sense of responsibility that will make the elections free, fair and peaceful”.

Ambassador Blay-Amihere, who has been re-elected unopposed to serve another term as NMC Chairman, is hoping to strengthen the Commission to be more responsive in meeting challenges in Ghanaian media practice.

“We would like to put in place structures and foundations that would make the NMC stronger than what it is today”, he stated.

He is also hopeful the institutionalization of the Media Development Fund would help mobilize resources from the state and other sources to increase the capacity of the Ghanaian media to be more professional.

The National Media Commission has been meeting with media personnel in Kumasi to present report findings of its media monitoring exercise undertaken in Accra and Kumasi.

It is the second in the series to observe trends in media coverage of Election 2012.

 

Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong observed “major points of assurance as well as low points that require care and consideration especially as we prepare for Election Day and the immediate post election period”.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh