"A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad". ~ Albert Camus
My son, i want you to change the subject matter of your blog and write on less politically sensitive issues. You know what happened to your folks businesses. These people are very dangerous. These were the welcoming words from my mum late thursday night when I returned from watching a public screening of a documentary - Mapi Liberia - by my friend who was an exchange student at Legon. I had been so busy trying to shuttle from Koforidua and Accra late Thursday afternoon to watch the documentary that i had missed a lot on the airwaves. So my mum's admonition was a bit suprising until i had received a full and detailed account. Then i knew where she was coming from.
Ladies and gentlemen, the simple issue is that criminal charges had been preferred against a radio panelist on Top Radio, a private radio station in the capital, for apparently declaring his knowledge of the man behind the fire which garted the residence of a former president, J J Rawlings. The host of the show had apparently prevailed upon the panelist to provide evidence or withdraw, as has been the practice on all radion stations which discuss politics and the panelist had responded by withdrawing. Yet, the state was not satisfied and chose to persecute this gentleman under a law which was last used in 1975. (Ref: Minority press confab 19/02/10). However, the bad news was still to come: the Circuit Court judge had remanded him in prison custody for two weeks. WHAT? Yes, the gentleman had been remanded in prison custody basically for failing to provide evidence for what he had alleged and withdrawn on air.
The Analysis
For some of us, it is not so suprising that this could happen under the regime. Afterall, its the NDC in power and the gentleman had accused none other but the god of the NDC. His Holiness, His righteousness. Maybe, the genlteman should have been aware that if you touch Junior Jesus, you touch fire and it will burn you. I do not intend to consider the actions and/or inactions of the judge but rather the behaviour of the Attorney General, who is in charge of all criminal prosecutions. One question which kept erupting in my mind was: is it the same NDC?
Is it the same NDC whose serial caller, Dr Asem Fofra asked Prez Kufour to curse if he he had not dipped his hands into state coffers at a people's assembly in which Prez Kufour was present? Is it the same NDC whose journalist published that Prez. Kufour had stolen state money to build a swimming pool in his house, install a jacuzzi in his bathroom, and other luzuries in his home, forcing the gentle giant to open his entire house to TV and Radio? Atleast i saw his sitting room that day. Is it the same NDC that at the peak of its loose talk, had made GBC workers to abandon their offices and the whole nation to sleep at dawn through Radio Gold during the 2008 elections? Is it the same NDC that made a lot of irresponsible allegations through people like Tony Aidoo, Fiifi Kwetey, Ametor Kwame, Okudzeto Ablakwa, and General Mosquito prior to the 2008 elections? And so for the statements by Mr Rawlings, you are all aware: thieves, greedy bastards, Atta Mortuary man, and little twitches, are but a few of his adjectives for describing political office holders including his own. Perhaps, the NDC should remind itself that what is good for the goose must equally be good for the gander. (Akan: Abaa ye di bo tachie no, enoaa na ye di bo baah)!
Today, the NDC is sending Ghanaians to the School of Responsible Journalism. Since when did they graduate from that same school? Or is the NDC's understanding and appreciation of the law influenced by where they sit in relation to political power? Not too long ago, if this same law had been applied, some ministers today would have been languishing in jail or be ex-convicts. Apparently, after the repel of the criminal libel law by the NPP, which was passed ny the NDC, the only opportunity to attack media freedom was found embelished in a law which until yesterday had last been used in 1975. As a liberal, I would unhesitantly promote responsible journalism, but to do that through intimidation and fear would be resisted to the last breath. Speech is a child of thought and any attempt aimed at speech control is an attempt to limit thought. Without thought, I dare say humans are no different from goats and chickens.
A free media has an indigenous way of checking the bad nuts within. Today, many responsible people do not listen to some radio stations due to the conduct of these stations during the 2008 general elections. Similarly some panelists would never be invited or honour invitations from particular media houses. If for nothing at all, ex president Kufuor bequeathed to mother Ghana a free press. A free press must be noted is the representation of the tolerance of the government to opposing views, and a measure of the rights enjoyed by the populace as guaranteed by the constitution. It is no no coincidence that the only words embossed on the official state symbol, the coat of arms is: Freedom and Justice. What makes Ghana and Ghanaians different from other nationals of sub-saharan Africa is our freedom, guarded and protected by a just judicial service. To behave or misbehave in a way that is inimical to the freedom of the press is most unfortunate.
I must in this regard congratulate the Minoroty caucus of parliament for taking a strong exception to this trend. It not only started today, especially with minor attacks on Oman Fm during the Bioling point, a politically skewed programme. The chills which went through most people on this news outbreak was the reminder of the DARK DAYS, the CULTURE OF SILENCE, which required brave men like the late Prof. Adu Boahen, Nana Akufo Addo to stand up. Today, NPP mp's have lived up to this bravery exhibited by their forbears. Hon Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, thank you for this fight. We need our freedom, however irresponible it is.
To end this piece, I wish to leave you with the notes of the greatest english philosopher and liberal thinker, whose love for personal freedom led to the very violent reactions both for and against. And yet, his writings changed the course of history to make America the greatest country in the world today. We should warn those who want to restrict our thoughts and speech that an attempt to murder democracy in our dear nation through such tactics must note: We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
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