The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned some media houses for misleading the public with pranks on April Fool's Day last Friday, April 1.

GJA raised concerns over Joy FM's prank "which gave listeners the impression that its “Super Morning Show” host Kojo Yankson while on air, was forcibly picked up by two BNI operatives from the studio and taken away."

The Association saw no entertainment value in what it described as "an expensive joke." 

"The GJA considers the use of the mass media to play such tricks as dangerous and inimical to the image of the media, whose personnel are expected to be disseminators and conveyors of credible information at all times," the statement said. 

Below is the statement

GJA Condemns Pranks in the Media

The GJA’s attention has been drawn to pranks by a number of radio stations to commemorate 1st April as All Fools ’ Day, and strongly condemns the hoax by radio stations on their morning shows which by all standards were unprofessional and mischievous.

We refer particularly to the one by Joy FM which gave listeners the impression that its “Super Morning Show” host Kojo Yankson while on air, was forcibly picked up by two BNI operatives from the studio and taken away.

The whole incident later turned out to be a practical joke for April Fools’ Day. We consider that type of prank to be an expensive joke with no entertainment value.

The GJA is deeply disappointed that a radio station of Joy FM’s caliber could decide to stoop so low and indulge in such broadcast vulgarism that has the tendency to undermine media trust, public security and generate unnecessary political tension.

This is especially the case, in the wake of the recent incident involving National Security, the BNI and the New Patriotic Party, over the deportation of three South African security men said to have been in Ghana to train the private security of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, flagbearer of the NPP.

The GJA considers the use of the mass media to play such tricks as dangerous and inimical to the image of the media, whose personnel are expected to be disseminators and conveyors of credible information at all times.

We urge the media, especially in an election year, to use their platforms to promote decent dialogue and debate that help to inform, educate and entertain the people to unearth the truth rather than engage in such pranks that raise false alarm, put people on urge and undermine the peace.

Affail Monney, GJA President