Commentary on World Press Freedom Day-2011
Press Freedom is generally seen as the right guaranteed by the first amendment to the U.S Constitution to publish and distribute information in books, magazines and newspapers without government intervention. World Press Freedom Day which was instituted by a U.N. General Assembly Resolution is observed globally to highlight the principles of Press freedom and remember those who fought and died trying to exercise them.
For the first time in world history, the US is partnering UNESCO to host the day at Washington D.C on the theme: “21st Century Media- New Frontiers, New Barriers”. The day is significant not only to media practitioners, but everybody considering the fact that, 84 per cent of the about six-point nine billion people in the world live in nations where the media is partly free from government control or not free at all. Besides, there is also an overwhelming response to the growing popularity of internet based applications such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Blogs. Leaders in democratic and authoritarian states have no qualms in admitting that the establishment and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and vibrant media is the cornerstone of development.
Unfortunately, as the global community marks World Press Freedom Day today, the Journalists Memorial at Newseum in Washington D.C is adding the names of 59 journalists who died in 2010 to eighteen others who died earlier this year to the list of the over two thousand deceased journalists worldwide. Aside from this, 75 journalists are being held in Turkey for trying to expose rot in the country. The story of the eight journalists who were attacked in Uganda recently whilst trying to report on the walk-to-work campaign in protest against fuel price hikes is still fresh in our minds.
In Ghana, many still remember the story of the murder of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA in 2006, Samuel Anim. The truth is whilst lovers of democracy see free and unfettered flow of information as the lifeblood of a joyful and functioning world, the same cannot be said of dictators and criminal cartels. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said it all when she stated that when a free media is in jeopardy, all other human rights are also threatened. Also, a blogger described the five days that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak blocked mobile phone communications and internet access in an attempt to stifle press freedom, as a period when Egyptians lived in a big prison.
The good news is that Ghana has made significant strides with press freedom in the last decade. Surprisingly the Global Press Freedom rankings for 2011 released yesterday by Freedom House ranked Ghana 54 and Mali 45 on the list of 196 countries. This ranking makes Mali the number one country in Africa with the freest media followed by Ghana which occupied the first position in 2009 and 2010. The level of freedom enjoyed by Ghanaian journalists is not in doubt. Records at the National Media Commission indicate that Ghana has over a thousand registered newspapers, 200 Radio Stations and ten T.V. stations with 25 channels besides the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The Criminal Libel and Sedition laws have been removed from the law books. Also the Whistle Blower Act is now operational in the country. Ghana’s Parliament is also leaving no stone unturned to get the Freedom of Information Bill passed into law. There is therefore no justification for anybody to feel intimidated for what he or she writes or says.
As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day today one will want to remind journalists of the need to be guided by their professional ethics and be mindful of the Nation’s cultural diversity as they try to gather and disseminate timely and accurate information. The time has also come to take a second look at the powers of the NMC and the resources that are allocated to the commission so that it can function effectively.
The Ghana Journalists Association must also fast-track its unionization process to bargain for better working conditions for media practitioners to avoid the current practice where some journalists have become bootlickers and remote-controlled devices for politicians. Long live Ghanaian Journalists, Long live all media practitioners, Long live Ghana.
BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC- RADIO NEWSROOM IN ACCRA
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Witch camps in Ghana
NEWS COMMENTARY ON THE NEED TO ABOLISH WITCH CAMPS IN THE COUNTRY
Many Ghanaians believe witchcraft is real and can be destructive. This non-empirical and intuitive mentality with no justification in today’s scientific world, is unfortunately the bane behind the inhumane treatment meted out to people perceived to be witches. It is embarrassing, that in the midst of Christian and Islamic teachings and the claim that rule of law is supreme in Ghana, as many as over 966 women and six hundred and seven (607) children are detained in three out of the six witch camps in the Northern Region. These are Ngani witches camp in Yendi, the Kukuo witches camp at Bimbila and the famous Gambaga witches camp at Gambaga.
Unfortunately the Ghanaian media only highlights the plight of witches in the northern part of the country as if it was a deliberate attempt to paint a dark picture of virtually everything in the north. In a recent report, titled “killing the witches”, Manase Azure Awuni, a journalist exposed the pathetic story of how some witches are beaten, vilified and locked up in homes in the nation’s capital, Accra . The story of the 72-year old woman, who was burnt in the industrial city of Tema, by five adults for allegedly being a witch, is still fresh in our memory. The police in Takoradi also made public, the story of a couple who kept their nine year old son indoors until his death on the orders of a spiritualist that the boy was possessed by witchcraft. The list is endless with prayer camps seemingly playing a dominant role.
Without attempting to endorse the purported acts of witchcraft, it is only fair that in the absence of any authentic proofs all human beings are treated fairly. In virtually all cases, alleged witches, apart from being beaten mercilessly, are forced to drink unhealthy herbal concoctions to prove their innocence most of which are injurious to their health. There is scientific evidence that some people who profess to be speaking with the devil or hearing voices of others including voices of the dead are simply hallucinating. Science has proven that there are many psychological disorders that manifest in people especially at the menopausal or old age that make sufferers to sometimes behave in ways that some people may attribute to witchcraft. Yet there is no correlation between the two.
The question is for how long shall we continue to infringe on the fundamental human rights of these so called witches most of whom are either from very poor homes or are very old in the name of culture? The 1992 constitution makes it clear that no one is guilty unless otherwise proven by a court of competent jurisdiction. It is therefore criminal for anyone to hide behind culture and religion to infringe on the rights of others under the pretext of witchcraft. Certainly the rights of some people have been grossly abused, in the name of witchcraft, and the time to end it, is now. One is therefore making a passionate appeal to the government to ensure the immediate closure of all witch camps in the country.
It may be true that many of the accused may have committed demonic acts with witchcraft. It is also true that many have been falsely accused and are suffering for accusations they have no knowledge of. Let us jointly fight for the release of these accused witches and ensure that their human rights are respected at all times.
BY: GEORGE ASEKERE, GBC RADIO NEWSROOM.
Many Ghanaians believe witchcraft is real and can be destructive. This non-empirical and intuitive mentality with no justification in today’s scientific world, is unfortunately the bane behind the inhumane treatment meted out to people perceived to be witches. It is embarrassing, that in the midst of Christian and Islamic teachings and the claim that rule of law is supreme in Ghana, as many as over 966 women and six hundred and seven (607) children are detained in three out of the six witch camps in the Northern Region. These are Ngani witches camp in Yendi, the Kukuo witches camp at Bimbila and the famous Gambaga witches camp at Gambaga.
Unfortunately the Ghanaian media only highlights the plight of witches in the northern part of the country as if it was a deliberate attempt to paint a dark picture of virtually everything in the north. In a recent report, titled “killing the witches”, Manase Azure Awuni, a journalist exposed the pathetic story of how some witches are beaten, vilified and locked up in homes in the nation’s capital, Accra . The story of the 72-year old woman, who was burnt in the industrial city of Tema, by five adults for allegedly being a witch, is still fresh in our memory. The police in Takoradi also made public, the story of a couple who kept their nine year old son indoors until his death on the orders of a spiritualist that the boy was possessed by witchcraft. The list is endless with prayer camps seemingly playing a dominant role.
Without attempting to endorse the purported acts of witchcraft, it is only fair that in the absence of any authentic proofs all human beings are treated fairly. In virtually all cases, alleged witches, apart from being beaten mercilessly, are forced to drink unhealthy herbal concoctions to prove their innocence most of which are injurious to their health. There is scientific evidence that some people who profess to be speaking with the devil or hearing voices of others including voices of the dead are simply hallucinating. Science has proven that there are many psychological disorders that manifest in people especially at the menopausal or old age that make sufferers to sometimes behave in ways that some people may attribute to witchcraft. Yet there is no correlation between the two.
The question is for how long shall we continue to infringe on the fundamental human rights of these so called witches most of whom are either from very poor homes or are very old in the name of culture? The 1992 constitution makes it clear that no one is guilty unless otherwise proven by a court of competent jurisdiction. It is therefore criminal for anyone to hide behind culture and religion to infringe on the rights of others under the pretext of witchcraft. Certainly the rights of some people have been grossly abused, in the name of witchcraft, and the time to end it, is now. One is therefore making a passionate appeal to the government to ensure the immediate closure of all witch camps in the country.
It may be true that many of the accused may have committed demonic acts with witchcraft. It is also true that many have been falsely accused and are suffering for accusations they have no knowledge of. Let us jointly fight for the release of these accused witches and ensure that their human rights are respected at all times.
BY: GEORGE ASEKERE, GBC RADIO NEWSROOM.
Friday, 10 June 2011
world press freedom day 2011
Press Freedom Day-2011
Commentary on World Press Freedom Day-2011
Press Freedom is generally seen as the right guaranteed by the first amendment to the U.S Constitution to publish and distribute information in books, magazines and newspapers without government intervention. World Press Freedom Day which was instituted by a U.N. General Assembly Resolution is observed globally to highlight the principles of Press freedom and remember those who fought and died trying to exercise them.
For the first time in world history, the US is partnering UNESCO to host the day at Washington D.C on the theme: “21st Century Media- New Frontiers, New Barriers”. The day is significant not only to media practitioners, but everybody considering the fact that, 84 per cent of the about six-point nine billion people in the world live in nations where the media is partly free from government control or not free at all. Besides, there is also an overwhelming response to the growing popularity of internet based applications such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Blogs. Leaders in democratic and authoritarian states have no qualms in admitting that the establishment and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and vibrant media is the cornerstone of development.
Unfortunately, as the global community marks World Press Freedom Day today, the Journalists Memorial at Newseum in Washington D.C is adding the names of 59 journalists who died in 2010 to eighteen others who died earlier this year to the list of the over two thousand deceased journalists worldwide. Aside from this, 75 journalists are being held in Turkey for trying to expose rot in the country. The story of the eight journalists who were attacked in Uganda recently whilst trying to report on the walk-to-work campaign in protest against fuel price hikes is still fresh in our minds.
In Ghana, many still remember the story of the murder of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA in 2006, Samuel Anim. The truth is whilst lovers of democracy see free and unfettered flow of information as the lifeblood of a joyful and functioning world, the same cannot be said of dictators and criminal cartels. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said it all when she stated that when a free media is in jeopardy, all other human rights are also threatened. Also, a blogger described the five days that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak blocked mobile phone communications and internet access in an attempt to stifle press freedom, as a period when Egyptians lived in a big prison.
The good news is that Ghana has made significant strides with press freedom in the last decade. Surprisingly the Global Press Freedom rankings for 2011 released yesterday by Freedom House ranked Ghana 54 and Mali 45 on the list of 196 countries. This ranking makes Mali the number one country in Africa with the freest media followed by Ghana which occupied the first position in 2009 and 2010. The level of freedom enjoyed by Ghanaian journalists is not in doubt. Records at the National Media Commission indicate that Ghana has over a thousand registered newspapers, 200 Radio Stations and ten T.V. stations with 25 channels besides the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The Criminal Libel and Sedition laws have been removed from the law books. Also the Whistle Blower Act is now operational in the country. Ghana’s Parliament is also leaving no stone unturned to get the Freedom of Information Bill passed into law. There is therefore no justification for anybody to feel intimidated for what he or she writes or says.
As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day today one will want to remind journalists of the need to be guided by their professional ethics and be mindful of the Nation’s cultural diversity as they try to gather and disseminate timely and accurate information. The time has also come to take a second look at the powers of the NMC and the resources that are allocated to the commission so that it can function effectively.
The Ghana Journalists Association must also fast-track its unionization process to bargain for better working conditions for media practitioners to avoid the current practice where some journalists have become bootlickers and remote-controlled devices for politicians. Long live Ghanaian Journalists, Long live all media practitioners, Long live Ghana.
BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC- RADIO NEWSROOM IN ACCRA.
Press Freedom is generally seen as the right guaranteed by the first amendment to the U.S Constitution to publish and distribute information in books, magazines and newspapers without government intervention. World Press Freedom Day which was instituted by a U.N. General Assembly Resolution is observed globally to highlight the principles of Press freedom and remember those who fought and died trying to exercise them.
For the first time in world history, the US is partnering UNESCO to host the day at Washington D.C on the theme: “21st Century Media- New Frontiers, New Barriers”. The day is significant not only to media practitioners, but everybody considering the fact that, 84 per cent of the about six-point nine billion people in the world live in nations where the media is partly free from government control or not free at all. Besides, there is also an overwhelming response to the growing popularity of internet based applications such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Blogs. Leaders in democratic and authoritarian states have no qualms in admitting that the establishment and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and vibrant media is the cornerstone of development.
Unfortunately, as the global community marks World Press Freedom Day today, the Journalists Memorial at Newseum in Washington D.C is adding the names of 59 journalists who died in 2010 to eighteen others who died earlier this year to the list of the over two thousand deceased journalists worldwide. Aside from this, 75 journalists are being held in Turkey for trying to expose rot in the country. The story of the eight journalists who were attacked in Uganda recently whilst trying to report on the walk-to-work campaign in protest against fuel price hikes is still fresh in our minds.
In Ghana, many still remember the story of the murder of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA in 2006, Samuel Anim. The truth is whilst lovers of democracy see free and unfettered flow of information as the lifeblood of a joyful and functioning world, the same cannot be said of dictators and criminal cartels. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said it all when she stated that when a free media is in jeopardy, all other human rights are also threatened. Also, a blogger described the five days that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak blocked mobile phone communications and internet access in an attempt to stifle press freedom, as a period when Egyptians lived in a big prison.
The good news is that Ghana has made significant strides with press freedom in the last decade. Surprisingly the Global Press Freedom rankings for 2011 released yesterday by Freedom House ranked Ghana 54 and Mali 45 on the list of 196 countries. This ranking makes Mali the number one country in Africa with the freest media followed by Ghana which occupied the first position in 2009 and 2010. The level of freedom enjoyed by Ghanaian journalists is not in doubt. Records at the National Media Commission indicate that Ghana has over a thousand registered newspapers, 200 Radio Stations and ten T.V. stations with 25 channels besides the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The Criminal Libel and Sedition laws have been removed from the law books. Also the Whistle Blower Act is now operational in the country. Ghana’s Parliament is also leaving no stone unturned to get the Freedom of Information Bill passed into law. There is therefore no justification for anybody to feel intimidated for what he or she writes or says.
As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day today one will want to remind journalists of the need to be guided by their professional ethics and be mindful of the Nation’s cultural diversity as they try to gather and disseminate timely and accurate information. The time has also come to take a second look at the powers of the NMC and the resources that are allocated to the commission so that it can function effectively.
The Ghana Journalists Association must also fast-track its unionization process to bargain for better working conditions for media practitioners to avoid the current practice where some journalists have become bootlickers and remote-controlled devices for politicians. Long live Ghanaian Journalists, Long live all media practitioners, Long live Ghana.
BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC- RADIO NEWSROOM IN ACCRA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)