Ransford Tetteh: GJA committed to media freedom
Gilbert Boyefio
05/08/2008
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Ransford Tetteh, has reiterated the Association's commitment to media freedom and also advocacy for the passage of the access to information bill.
Speaking at a short presentation ceremony by Stanbic Bank to the GJA towards the forthcoming 13th GJA Awards Nite, Ransford Tetteh, pointed out that by coming out with a new draft guideline on the coverage of elections, the Association is not trying to gag the media, as being speculated, but rather to ensure that sanity prevail in the upcoming December general elections.
The GJA President explained that with the current mounting tension in the country surrounding the election, with the voters registration exercise being characterized by violence in some volatile areas, it would not be prudent to allow the over 40 media houses in the country to call out election result before the Electoral Commission does.
He said should the EC come out with different results from the ones being given out by the media, such a situation will lead to chaos and violence.
According to him, "coming out with the new draft guideline is right and appropriate," pointing out that "we owe it a duty to protect our democracy."
Mr Tetteh disclosed that the GJA will soon provide a platform for all those who have any concern over the draft guideline to let it be known and also make inputs.
Samuel Allotey, Head of Human Resource, Stanbic Bank, said the bank believes in a vibrant media and hence the decision to support the GJA. He said life is about choices but the quality of a person's choice depends on the information available to him.
He said Stanbic Bank is sponsoring the 13th GJA Award Nite with GH¢5,000 for two of the categories, namely the best columnist and the best sports writer. He said the Bank hopes to continue partnering the awards.
The draft guideline on the coverage of elections was developed by a group of eminent persons in collaboration with the Electoral Commission with sponsorship from the French Embassy. It is expected to be an add-on to the GJA code of ethics and the National Media Commission as the main conduit for political reporting.
It is hoped that the guideline would help media practitioners out of the difficult ethical and professional dilemmas that they may face during the pre-election, election and post election periods.
05/08/2008
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Ransford Tetteh, has reiterated the Association's commitment to media freedom and also advocacy for the passage of the access to information bill.
Speaking at a short presentation ceremony by Stanbic Bank to the GJA towards the forthcoming 13th GJA Awards Nite, Ransford Tetteh, pointed out that by coming out with a new draft guideline on the coverage of elections, the Association is not trying to gag the media, as being speculated, but rather to ensure that sanity prevail in the upcoming December general elections.
The GJA President explained that with the current mounting tension in the country surrounding the election, with the voters registration exercise being characterized by violence in some volatile areas, it would not be prudent to allow the over 40 media houses in the country to call out election result before the Electoral Commission does.
He said should the EC come out with different results from the ones being given out by the media, such a situation will lead to chaos and violence.
According to him, "coming out with the new draft guideline is right and appropriate," pointing out that "we owe it a duty to protect our democracy."
Mr Tetteh disclosed that the GJA will soon provide a platform for all those who have any concern over the draft guideline to let it be known and also make inputs.
Samuel Allotey, Head of Human Resource, Stanbic Bank, said the bank believes in a vibrant media and hence the decision to support the GJA. He said life is about choices but the quality of a person's choice depends on the information available to him.
He said Stanbic Bank is sponsoring the 13th GJA Award Nite with GH¢5,000 for two of the categories, namely the best columnist and the best sports writer. He said the Bank hopes to continue partnering the awards.
The draft guideline on the coverage of elections was developed by a group of eminent persons in collaboration with the Electoral Commission with sponsorship from the French Embassy. It is expected to be an add-on to the GJA code of ethics and the National Media Commission as the main conduit for political reporting.
It is hoped that the guideline would help media practitioners out of the difficult ethical and professional dilemmas that they may face during the pre-election, election and post election periods.
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