Audio By Carbonatix
A Private legal practitioner, Kwame Akuffo says government's decision to ban Multimedia journalists from all State functions is crippled at birth.
He said government’s resolution to treat reporters from the Multimedia Group Limited (MGL) as 'gate crashers' contravenes the constitutional provision of equal access to information.
“Government cannot have a selective and a discriminatory policy toward sections of the media. Our Constitution frowns upon discrimination in the human right provision which is captured from Article 12 to 33 /5 of the 1992 Constitution” Akuffo argued.
A Deputy Information Minister, James Agyenim-Boateng announced a unilateral decision by government and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to cut all forms of communication with the Multimedia Group citing unfair reportage on its issues.
According to Agyenim-Boateng, the boycott followed MGL's failure to condemn supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) who, led by the party’s National Youth Organizer, Anthony Karbo marched on Asempa FM, one of the stations of MGL to attack an NDC panelist for making disparaging comments about their flag-bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He also claimed the conduct of the NPP supporters was not even reported on Joy FM, a claim that has comprehensively been dismantled with evidence.
The Deputy Information Minister has subsequently directed all ministries, departments and agencies of the government not to engage any reporter of the MGL.
However, Management of Multimedia Group Limited has vehemently denied government's allegations of favoritism. They explained that the incident was given an extensive coverage on Joy FM’s Top Story programme February 22, 2012.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Lawyer Kwame Akuffo said government's position on the issue is unfounded and smacks of intolerance of press freedom.
He indicated that government’s action would undermine information dissemination to a large section of the populace who depend on MGL platforms to understand government policies and programmes.
“Government cannot force people to choose radio stations that they would listen to. If government’s directive is carried out to its logical conclusion, they would be forcing the citizens of this country to choose the radio stations they should listen to and surely that would offend the constitutional principles of equal access” he added.
The renowned legal practitioner said if government remains resolute on the matter, it opens an avenue for monopoly over the media which to a large extend hinders free speech.
He could not fathom why government did not refer the matter to the National Media Commission (NMC) but chose to boycott a big media platform with a wide listenership like Multimedia.
Lawyer Akuffo feared there could be adverse repercussion on the government if it continuous to blacklist Multimedia ahead of the December 7 general election.
“You shut down Multimedia network - a media with such a large coverage at this stage of the nation's development; as we head toward election [and]information should be sent out in proper perspective, that would be clearly unconstitutional”.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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