The Western Region Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Toku, has charged journalists to use the same yardstick they used to measure the performance of the past Mahama administration in assessing the Akufo-Addo administration.
Nana Toku said it is regrettable that some media practitioners, who viciously criticized the past NDC government for certain decisions they deemed bad for the country, have gone quiet and are watching on while the same and, according to him, even worse decisions are being taken by the Akufo-Addo-led government.
The regional chairman expressed concern when he and his regional executives met media practitioners in the Western Region.
According to the regional leadership of the party, the end-of-year meeting was for the party to renew its relationship with the media while discussing how they could co-exist in furtherance of the development of the party and the Region.
Nana Toku stated that there will be several instances where executives and communicators of the party will err in their dealings with the media.
“We are humans. It is possible for tempers to flare up especially in the course of advancing a point about a programme of action or an implemented policy of our party on air. Sometimes that comes out as an attack and therefore an equal response sometimes from hosts of programmes. That insistence from a party official should not be enough reason to sidestep the good tenets of journalism. Your role as a referee becomes suspicious.”
He added: “There are also instances where you will hear something about a member of the party. I cannot for any reason tell you not to run your story. What I will, however, urge you to do is just to call the person for his side of the story because for every story there are two sides. When you do that you become respectable and credible as well.”
Western Region Secretary of the party Joe Nelson underscored the importance of the media and admitted that the success or otherwise of political parties largely rests on how they are portrayed by the media.
“Your role is very critical. You have become undoubtedly strategic partners for development. Whether good or bad you say it. So, we appreciate you a lot. So as much as possible we want to have a cordial relationship.”
He, however, pleaded with media practitioners not to assume the role of unofficial spokespersons for the government during discussions on policies and programmes of governments as that sends out wrong signals about the professionalism of that person.
“It is not always that we will see one thing the same way. Our challenge is sometimes, some of you put yourselves in the debate rather than being a referee.”
Western Region Organizer of the party Japheth Baidoo also charged media practitioners to be bold and point out to government when it is peddling falsehood, especially about projects.
“A lot of policies and programmes of this and past governments may not have been implemented if it had not been for your vigilance. You should continue doing so. If you hear the government claiming there are certain projects under the 1D1F in the region and it is not true, we cannot keep quiet because we do not belong to the NDC. If you speak the truth and government becomes more conscious about what it has to do and indeed put up two or three factories, under the 1D1F we all will benefit.”
Source: 3news
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Charley I know all govt people steal but with JDM's dispensation it is unprecedentedly unprecedented that's why it looks like a different yardstick is being used now. The issue is that there's a vast difference between the two persons and the two parties hence even with the same yardstick the differences would show. And eda mu clear.
@ Criticize, i am amazed at your post. So it means you have not seen all the corrupt acts under this government. PDS, Sales of contracts which is an open secret in this government but all are seemingly afraid to say anything, GRS, $1m by Osafo Marfo with no work done but the AG is hounded all over the place, Pre mix fuel saga, renting private aircraft purportedly for government business, bloated road contracts, creating positions for family in government and governmental agencies and on and on and on. Please if bus branding is not good, all these are also not good. Unfortunately, we have people and in particular journalists like Kwaku Baako, my brother Sefa who is now retreating a bit, OB who is supposed to be a deacon or elder in Church of Pentecost, and the rest who will interrupt, shout down, interject anyone who dares to criticise this government for reasons we all know. Kwaku Baako meanwhile is able to afford maternity fees in the US which i do not have a problem with so far as he does not hail this government even if they are wrong. This behaviour is making all of us poor despite all the resources we have been bestowed with. The blood of our kinsmen who have to trek to desert countries and sold like cattle on the open market are on the hands of those who support wrong doing by ANY government as they are the facilitators of corruption.
funny!!! just criticise? okay then Mahama remains a tthhieff even in opposition
u measn they should just criticize because mahama was criticized? did Akufo addo take a car as bribe in exchange for a road contract? be serious
When Mahaha was the president he see No evil hear no evil,allowing babies with sharp teeth to insult the clergy,elderly in the society and now you want who to say what? NDC should enjoy fruit of their labour,they sow when they were In government, next time you will learn how to respect people you govern....
Ghanaians generally are right thinking people. Why force journalists to criticise when there's nothing bad going on that should be criticised? We have our own minds and don't need NDC operatives/sympathisers to preach any non-existing wrong doings to us so we criticise. Mahama was a total mess. The country was not moving in any direction just cacophonous noises from NDC communicators on various radio stations. There was too much noise around, meanwhile nothing positive going on only corruption all over. Leave Nana Addo to also do what he can, at least he's given some very good directional policies which if well implemented would move Ghana into a better future.
How do the journalists criticize the NPP government if they are not involved in dirty corruptions like bus branding, SADA, Mahama ford etc. THIS NDC PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR POWER BUT THEY WILL BE LOSERS FOR A WHILE.
This NDC party is full of idio.ts. So if there is nothing to criticize they should just criticize for the sake of criticising. What a party.
Instead of responding to my post and calling Kwei a hypocrite just go ahead and criticize Nana Addo if you have anything to criticize him about. It is just mere propaganda trying to paint a picture of a man when there is nothing. The man has not all the country's bauxite to his brother, there is no bus branding saga, the economy is better, the man has a well spelt out vision of things he wants to do even if it is not done yet he has a vision. How do you compare that to Mahama and expect us to judge him by Mahama standards? We are the citizens and when we see something wrong we will not need anyone to come and tell us what to do.
You are just a hypocrite or not man enough to speak the truth.