THIS ROW MUST END (JULY 23, 2010)

THE row between journalists and the security agencies, especially the police, over the invitation extended to two journalists concerning their reportage must have sent shivers down the spine of lovers of press freedom and democracy.
Mr Ato Kwamena Dadzie, the acting News Editor of Joy FM, and Mr Enimil Ashon, Editor of the Ghanaian Times, have been at the centre of this saga; a caution statement has been taken from the former in contravention of the law while the latter had been invited because of a publication in last Wednesday’s issue of the paper.
Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression but that freedom is not absolute as Article 164 places a limitation in the interest of national security, public order and public morality and for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of others.
However, any move to criminalise free speech reduces the capacity of the press to play its role as a watchdog of society without let or hindrance.
Perhaps, our Constitution recognises this danger and created the National Media Commission (NMC) to adjudicate in such circumstances. Before the repeal of the criminal libel law, some journalists had gone to jail for expressing their opinion on certain national issues.
But even today, there are still some legislations on our statutes that criminalise free speech like the one being evoked by the police in the case of the two journalists.
The DAILY GRAPHIC will not condone irresponsibility on the part of the media in any form but we plead with the authorities to avoid actions that tend to criminalise free speech.
Indeed, some of the issues being complained about by the police are not protected under Chapter 12 of our Constitution and, therefore, we appeal to journalists to exercise circumspection in their reportage.
But again, if we all recognise the crucial role of the media in national development, we may decide to resort to the NMC to seek redress for any irresponsibility on the part of journalists or go to court in a civil action.
The DAILY GRAPHIC acknowledges the crucial role of the media in national development, but we must stress that journalists are also obliged to exercise the freedom guaranteed them by the Constitution with responsibility.
Our Constitution frowns on censorship but journalists can help build a better society if they choose the path of self-regulation in all that they do to avoid hate language and insults that a section of the media have become notorious for in recent times.
Basic journalism lessons admonish journalists to make sure they check and cross-check their sources before going to press, and anytime they are in doubt they should spike their stories rather than publish and be damned.
A journalist who chooses the path of publishing and being damned can be an instant hero depending on the political divide they belong in our politically-charged environment. But in doing so, we must remember that the “crown of martyrdom is not easy to wear”.
We have made tremendous progress in promoting media freedom in the country, and as such journalists and society at large must do everything to protect media freedom to ensure good governance, accountability and transparency.
The irresponsibility by a section of the media has also necessitated the call by some people in society that the NMC be clothed with more powers to deal with errant journalists.
The NMC was not established to clamp down on the media but it has been empowered with enough jurisdiction to protect and promote high journalistic standards and professionalism.
Finally, the DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the government, security agencies and the society at large to exercise restraint when dealing with media infractions so that in our attempt “to teach” the media a lesson, we do not throw away the baby with the bath water.