The chairman of the Council of State, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, has through his Personal Assistant described as false a story published in the Ghanaian Observer newspaper, that he had benefited from the acquisition of State Lands let alone confirmed same. He has, therefore, urged the public to disregard and treat the publication with the contempt it deserves because the authors of what he says is a falsehood are just trying very hard to drag honest and innocent persons into the indefensible criminal acts of their sponsors. In an interview with Dr. Wilberforce Dzisah, (Personal Assistant of Prof. Awoonor) he explained that the defamatory publication appeared in the Wednesday, 30th May-Friday 1st June, 2012 edition of the Ghanaian Observer with the headline; RE: Govt. Hypocrisy Over Acquisition of State Lands … MILLS MAN’S CO.; TOP GOV’T OFFICIALS ARE BENEFICIARIES in which the newspaper claimed that he had benefited from government land under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administrations respectively. According to Dr. Dzisah, Prof. Awoonor caused a rejoinder to be sent to the newspaper to deny the claim. “However, the newspaper, for reasons best known to the editor and the owners, decided to make a malicious story out of the rejoinder.” He added that this act by the managers of the newspaper is not only misleading but an act of ‘yellow journalism’ which must not be allowed to undermine the practice of responsible journalism in the country. “At best, the intention of the newspaper owners and their faceless sponsors is to subject Prof. Awoonor to public ridicule and hatred and it is evidenced by the polemical preamble to the publication of the rejoinder which is riddled with politically prejudiced and jaundiced opinions contrary to the basic principle behind the constitutional provision on mandatory rejoinders as contained in Article 162 (6) of the 1992 Constitution” he pointed out. The Personal Assistant asserted that the eminent scholar and literary giant has never benefited from any such largesse. He explained that Prof. Awoonor acquired his parcel of land in 1980 when he was a Professor of English at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). “This was during the administration of Dr. Hilla Limann and the People’s National Party (PNP). Clearly, this has no bearing on the political cum criminal acquisition of State properties which has become a genuine topical issue for debate within the democratic public sphere.” Dr. Dzisah noted that basic journalistic principle dictates that journalists and media practitioners cross-check their facts before going public and averred that “nothing justifies this kind of depraved writing from the Ghanaian Observer. I am tempted to believe that the newspaper and the owners are up to some grand scheme to defame and injure the hard earned reputation of the Chairman of the Council of State. Nothing, absolutely nothing justifies this malicious and tendentious publication”. Dr. Dzisah, who is a media and communications scholar, used the opportunity to remind journalists of the onerous responsibilities placed on their shoulders. He advised the media to chart the path of decency, be accountable and above all to uphold and publish the truth at all times. “If our newspapers and other media outlets refuse to be addicted to the truth but rather choose the path of ignominy, fabrications, concoctions and are blighted by their partisan and ideological considerations, our exploits will not merit even a footnote in the history of our people”, he counseled.