The Member of Parliament for Odododiodio constituency, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has urged Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Ocquaye to withdraw his threat against the media.
Rt. Hon Prof Mike Oquaye, reportedly issued a stern warning to members of the Parliamentary Press Corps at Wednesday's sitting.
This follows a complaint from the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu to the effect that journalists abandoned proceedings of the House to give audience to the MP for Ellembelle Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah who had concerns about the Energy sector aspect of the President's 2020 State of the Nation Address.
Speaking on the floor of the House, the Speaker indicated that he will not hesitate to declare journalists as strangers to parliament if due coverage is not given to the proceeding of the House by revoking their accreditation.
"It is forbidden if they have any doubt to abandoned the permission given them to cover proceeding in this honorable House and go outside the chamber itself and do some other work....... and I want to let the media know if that which was reported to have happened should happen anymore I will......on the fact that you are here as a guest......any, such act will make you unwelcomed guest...," he warned.
The Speaker is later said to have summoned the Dean of Parliamentary Press Corps and the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament over the conduct of journalists.
Nii Lante who was speaking on Peace FM morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ said it is up to the media to cover what or who they deemed newsworthy.
"I don’t believe anyone has the right to tell the media how to do their work. I’m a Member of Parliament and I know but for the media our activities in parliament will not be known or even seen...
“I think the Speaker should have called the leaders of the press corps first and tell them what went wrong, but with how he (Speaker) handled the case, I think it wasn’t right. If they think whatever is happening in the chambers or outside the chambers is what will give them news I think they have the right to cover it. Sometimes, what happens outside the gallery is more newsworthy than inside. Those who informed the speaker created the problem…I think he should withdraw the threat so that he will rather advise the media,” he urged.
Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Papa Nii, just be truthful. They have been given accreditation to perform a duty. I think the media houses should put their houses in order to plan ahead to cover the events of the day, given that the NDC had said they were going to boycott the SONA. Why accuse the Speaker for his action? We simply jump into unnecessary conclusion for criticizing sake.
Does the content of this article sound like it is an "appeal?" This is a condemnation and a directive
......and he calls himself HONOURABLE.
If you are issued with a license to driver a 2000 cc capacity vehicle and you decide to go and drive a vehicle with a capacity of 5000 cc, what do you expect the Licencing Authority to do? To watch you do the wrong thing? The Speaker is clothed with the Authority to issue accreditation to members of the Press Corps so if they are not acting within the authority given them, what do you expect? It appears our journalist do not want to be criticized in any way in the performance of their duties. Any attempt is deemed to be an infringement on their rights. YOU ENTER MY HOUSE UNDER MY DIRECTIVES!!!
Hon Hon Pls stop playing to the gallery..MPs must be seen to be one in this matter. the Media as a guest to Parliament must be concern first with what is happening in the Chamber before any other news...most media guys in parliament are stomach guys and all they are interested is getting money from individual MPs..by so doing neglecting their purpose of coming to parliament. No wonder they are always chasing MPs for soli mostly on fridays. God have mercy on us as i charge the media men and women in parliament to discharge their duties with professionalism
NDC and cheap popularity Ooooh