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 FM Party in the Park 2025: Kwabena Kwabena takes centre stage
15 minutes -
Ghana-Nigeria cyber-fraud network dupes over 200 victims of $400,000
24 minutes -
Tackling terrorism requires jobs and anti-corruption drive, not strikes alone – Nigerian security analyst
25 minutes -
Terror attacks in Nigeria affect all faiths, not only Christians – Security analyst
28 minutes -
$120,000 stolen from Ghanaian financial institution by hackers – INTERPOL
30 minutes -
Modern security management defined by trust – IGP
34 minutes -
The True Significance of Christmas: Pagan origins or Christian celebration
34 minutes -
US strikes on terrorists in Nigeria timely and strategic – Security analyst
45 minutes -
Patrons dance through drizzles at Joy FM’s Party in the Park 2025
49 minutes -
Samini thrills fans at the 2025 Samini Xperience concert
1 hour -
Gov’t targets 99.9% electricity access by 2030 as Awurahae, Sapor get power after decades
1 hour -
Ghana EXIM Bank repositioned to reduce import bill on rice, poultry – CEO assures
1 hour -
Photos: Hundreds turn out for Joy FM’s 2025 family party in the park
2 hours -
Volta Regional House of Chiefs renew call on Immigration to remove inland barriers at Sogakope, Asikuma
2 hours -
Police Christmas special operation: 27 suspects rounded up in Savannah Region
2 hours