The Media Foundation for West Africa is accusing the Information Ministry of usurping the powers and mandate of the National Media Commission. The Ministry is threatening to rein in errant television stations and movie makers by instituting a committee to regulate the content and activities of the Film makers in Ghana. A deputy Information Minister, Baba Jamal told Joy News government would not remain unconcerned whilst pornography and violent content takeover the screens and movie theatres. “Generally the Ministry of Information is in charge of content and what goes out into the system,” he stated. He said the ministry will be seen as “irresponsible” if it remains a by-stander in the growing insanity on the airways, adding, “in this situation we are bringing even the film people in; we are bringing everybody on board so that from the film acting to the showing, [everything] will be sanitized.” Baba Jamal noted until the broadcasting law is promulgated, the Information Ministry will take up the responsibility to ensure that what is fed the public through the media is wholesome. He strongly dismissed assertion that his ministry has taken over the work of the National Media Commission. But the Media Foundation for West Africa believes the Ministry could be over stepping its bounds. A deputy Executive Director of the Foundation, Sulemana Braimah said the action by the Information Ministry may be well intentioned but could be unconstitutional. “Every person in Ghana and all well meaning Ghanaians should be concerned about the level of indecency in our media today. But the difficulty is that if we are not careful, what will happen is that people will take these concerns by citizens to begin to arrogate to themselves powers or functions that they are not supposed to have." He said the pronouncement by Baba Jamal that his ministry has a mandate to regulate the content is flawed. “It is clear in the constitution, if you look at chapter 12, all the articles- 1,2,3,4,5, all talk about the freedom of the media and the fact that nobody has the right to regulate the media." Article 6 of the same chapter, he said, imposes limitations on what the media can and cannot publish, insisting that if there are breaches, the same constitution provides that the NMC take remedial steps and ensure there is high journalistic standards. He was unequivocal in saying the Ministry through this committee is taking over the duties of the NMC. At best, he said, the Information Ministry should implore the NMC to do more than they are doing at the moment to ensure sanity in the media. Play the attached audio for excepts of the interview Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana