Blame them, not us – NDC rejects responsibility for panelist comments

Deputy General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Lawson says the party cannot be blamed for comments made by panelists on radio or television programmes.

He said the individual who made the comments should rather be held responsible.

Speaking to Joy News’ Kwabena Kyenkyenhene Boateng, the Deputy General Secretary said members can speak for the party but “if an individual makes a statement, attribute it to him, not the party.”

Mr Lawson’s comment is a reaction to a report by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in which the party was cited as the most abusive on radio.

The report covering the month of June says the NDC made a total of 49 indecent statements on radio followed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with 27.

In all, 2348 radio programmes were monitored within a month. Programmes monitored included news bulletins, political and current affairs discussions programmes aired on 50 stations.

The NDC seems to have taken over from the NPP which topped the chart of political parties which use abusive and indecent language on radio in May.

But George Lawson says it is wrong for an entire party to be blamed for comments made by its members.

He said the party should in no terms be held responsible.

Citing the Supreme Court case where some panelist on an Accra based radio station threatened to kill judges and were summoned for contempt and found guilty by the court, he said no party but rather individuals were hauled before the court.

He believes that if parties are to take blame for what their members or supporters say, then the Supreme Court would have summoned the NDC, not the individuals and owners of the station.

“You can say a member of the NDC but saying the party is problematic. Let’s do things right,” he said.