Ex-president John Dramani Mahama recently lodged a complaint against the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Abronye DC for claiming that the former President has planned to assassinate some members of the New Patriotic Party.
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Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC is said to have made these claims in a recording on Net 2 TV, alleging also that President Mahama killed his former boss, John Atta Mills.
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Speaking to the issue, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Affail Monney, stated that journalists who allow political speeches that endanger the peace and morality of the nation can also face law suit.
In an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, he made known that even the constitution allows for press freedom, it imposes the responsibility of national security and national morality on the media.
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“The whole chapter twelve (12) of the constitution is dedicated to the freedom of the media. When it comes to political speech, people have a greater latitude. But you still have a limit. Article 164 of our constitution imposes national security and national morality on the media. So if something is said, we must consider if it breaches article 164, whether it breaches national security and national morality. For example, showing pornography at a certain time on television breaches national morality. You will thus need to examine whether what is said will bring peace or if it is morally right. You need to assess if it will bring public order”, he said.
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He, thus cautioned all host of political shows to take charge of their programs. “In law, if people are to be charged, the host and the politician can both be charged. An example is the Montie three”, he added.
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He, however, noted that despite our challenges, the Ghanaian media according to international reports, have impressive standards. “Ghana has passed the United Kingdom and United States of America in the world media ranking. We are the 30th”, he said.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah
