Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Sulemana Braimah says the conduct of some journalists and media firms mar the democratic and national development of Ghana.

He stated that due to the open partisanship of some media firms and journalists, it has become common to see the individuals in question use their platforms to indiscriminately do propaganda.

“Now, emboldened by partisan and other interests, it has become very common to hear or see people baselessly abuse one another on radio, or attack others on television or online.

“In fact, fabrications and outright lies and unsubstantiated allegations in sections of the media are now being perpetrated with disdain as if it’s normal,” he elaborated while contributing to a discussion on Newsfile, Saturday, July 8.

He noted that between June 2020 and May 2021, his organisation monitored 10 local language radio stations in Accra and found 1754 instances of unethical behaviour.

Mr Braimah added that out of the 10 stations, 3 accounted for 84.3% of the ethical breaches, and those 3 stations were politically partisan and owned by well-known politically active individuals

He stated that this conduct gives the impression that media freedom is also a guarantee for recklessness, which he asserted is not the case.

Moreover, Mr Braimah pointed out that such recklessness results in some problems that limit the ability of the media to fulfil their mandate as required, such as abuse and attacks against journalists.