Play gate-keeping role now, media urged

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Alex Bannnerman, has asked media houses not to allow their platforms to be used to foment trouble in the country.

He noted that most hate speeches were made by non-media people and that if radio presenters, editors and programme moderators decided to be firm and prevented people from using their platforms to say bad things, it would be very difficult for such people to be heard.

Mr Bannerman stated this at a one-day workshop for members of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions on enforcement of their code of conduct.

The workshop, organised by GIBA, in collaboration with STAR-Ghana, with support from USAID and DANIDA, was aimed at sensitising the members to the need for them to play their gate-keeping roles and how the broadcasters could prevent members of the public from using their platforms to create conflict in the country, particularly when the Supreme Court is about to deliver its verdict on the presidential election petition.

He hinted that as part of measures to ensure sanity on the media landscape, the NMC was working on a content regulation policy which would help inform what the media churned out to the public.

He said the regulation, which is currently with a select committee of the NMC, would soon be sent to Parliament for discussion and passage to help check some of the unguarded comments in the media that sought to create problems.

By Ernestina Kyerewaa Oppong/Collins Obeng Gyampo/Daily Graphic/Ghana