Audio By Carbonatix
When you want to ascertain for yourself a primary knowledge on people’s political opinion, I must confess that the best place to be is in the Trotro. (for the avoidance of doubt, where Trotro is defined as the commercial vehicle that conveys people from place to place).
Just last week, I joined a Trotro vehicle from West Legon leading to Achimota and all of sudden there was a heated debate in that Trotro that engaged my attention, following the release of Hon Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
A woman shouted next to me in Akan “sε mekasε yε beyinu, sε uwɔ akuo a nimdeε foɔ wom te sε lawyer Atta Akyea, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Dr Arthur Kennedy, saa na εbe si, na NDC εdεn na omu nim?”. Meaning if you have intelligent people in a political organization like lawyer Atta Akyea, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Dr Arthur Kennedy and others, he would not remain in police custody without bail, and what do NDC people think they know? The woman enquired.
In a quick response, an angry man sitting in the front sit took offense of it and said “why do we at this age and time confuse judicial proceedings with politics and in any case who in NPP can speak intelligently than Dr. Tony Aidoo, Kobby Acheampong, and Haruna Iddrisu, show me?” The man challenged.
As the debate got intense and the whole Trotro was divided and over heated. The question I asked was why should we personalize our politics like religion, having rise from my sit and ask the driver to lower the radio set or turn it off to bring peace in the car. This is because the argument was triggered from an Akan radio station that exaggerated the news and blew it out of proportion.
But how does one deal with thugs and illiterates who do not understand the views of other people on political matters particularly in the hinterlands? It is a difficult situation indeed and in Ghana, the politicians over the years have continued to mistaken politics with ethnicity and personalities.
As a celebrated country and the pride of African democracy, I think that we should move away from ethnic politics to issue-based, and is important to acknowledge the media as a powerful tool for education rather than malice. For instance, it is in appropriate to destroy a person’s hard earned reputation for money or parochial ends.
ROLE OF THE MEDIA
First, the media should do us good by giving precise news rather than exaggerated opinions, for the purpose of baiting large audience.
Second, there must be laws and regulation that will empower the media commission to enforce professionalism in their operations.
Third, media practitioners’ should exercise their freedom of expression with a high sense of responsibility.
Fourth, the media must have ethical values far from political ideologies; we must end the practice of corrupting the press for partisan purposes.
Fifth, we should employ some emotional intelligence as a people to accommodate those who do not share our point of view.
Finally, I humbly recommend to news editors to consider and look for mature people in our society who are inspirational to the youth, who set an exemplary good life for others to emulate, those who make sense in their discussion rather than noise.
As we approach 2012 elections, I am urging all of us to be responsible to get our point of view across. May God Bless Us All.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Joy At The Mall ignites Achimota Mall as Day 1 success fuels anticipation for weekend fun
11 seconds -
Government to roll out 10-year insurance master plan to fix structural gaps
7 minutes -
GAF’s dedication has kept Ghana strong amid internal, external threats – Ato Forson
13 minutes -
Ghana consolidates position as regional investment hub – GIPC CEO
16 minutes -
Dr Bawumia to win NPP primaries with 57% — Global InfoAnalytics predicts in final survey
24 minutes -
Gov’t to establish Ghana’s First Cyber and electronic warfare center in Tamale – Mahama
26 minutes -
Effective regulation and enforcement cannot be achieved by regulators alone – BoG Governor
26 minutes -
Spanish track was fractured before high-speed train disaster, report finds
31 minutes -
Photos: Mahama present as GAF marks end-of-year WASSA at Burma Camp
33 minutes -
Effutu Municipal Assembly tops Central Region in 2025 National Sanitation Day Assessment
35 minutes -
Gov’t to set up 2 new military units at Oti and Central Regions
43 minutes -
GAF and 48 Engineers Regiment to participate in Big Push projects – Mahama
44 minutes -
Parliament commends Newmont Ahafo South Mine for compliance with environmental regulations
53 minutes -
High stakes but low expectations ahead of Ukraine talks with Russia and US
1 hour -
Military played pivotal role in supporting illegal mining fight – Mahama
1 hour