The role of the media in our democratic dispensation over the years, cannot be overemphasised.
Ghana’s democratic credentials continue to soar with the developed countries on eagle wings partly because of the exceptionally deontic and unanimous display of professional sense of patriotism in the discharge of duties.
Many presenters, as history describes them, as influential presenters who have shaped the world in their line of duties. It is important to note that, there are 22 women presenters who inherently have fought a harder battle to make it on the top hundred most influential presenters in the world. Today, the world celebrates the likes of Christiane Amanpour: longtime and distinguished international reporter for CNN; now also works for ABC News, Hannah Arendt: a political thinker, author of The Origins of Totalitarianism and Gloria Steinem: a social activist and writer, who co-founded the women’s magazine Ms. in 1972. Gifty Anti, Shamima Muslim and Nana Aba Anamoah are few Ghanaian women presenters who continue to rock shoulders with the best women presenters in the world.
Unfortunately, the hard-earned reputations that these few responsible Ghanaian women presenters seek to build are being fast destroyed by persons who claim to be presenters – just because they can easily have access to the microphones and make a mockery of themselves.
The disheartening incident that happened on Asɛmpa Fm on Monday by someone who claimed to be a presenter reiterates the need for the media houses to demand mental clearance before some of them are allowed access to the microphone. In view of what happened yesterday on Asɛmpa Fm, I will appeal to the GJA to immediately partner with the mental health professionals at Pantang and Ankaful to offer free mental screening for this shameful presenter to save her from disgracing such a noble profession.
Women are generally known for their respect and sense of reasoning but this presenter, unintelligently without manners, defied our societal values to spew venom on an accomplished personality, an unprintable words she cannot use on her son; but in the name of stomach journalism, arrogantly throws these dirt on an accomplished personality of a former president whose crime has been for weeding at the New Military Cemetary with a mower.
The GJA must take up the necessary steps to ride off such characters who continue to lower the bar of journalism. The Multimedia Group must swiftly call her to render an unqualified apology and subsequently sack her to protect its image, the enviable image that has been built by the late KABA and celebrated females like Gifty Andoh Appiah and Bernice Abu Baidoo over the years.
Whilst i appeal to the NDC supporters to exercise restraint and remain focus on articulating our policies for the rescue agenda, i equally admonish the civil society organizations, the religious bodies and the traditional authorities to strongly come out, as soon as possible, to condemn her abusive words in no uncertain terms to safeguard our societal values.
Issued by
Charles Akowuah Tuffour
Regional Communication Officer
Bono Region (NDC)