University Of Ghana Students Demo

 

 

NEWS COMMENTARY ON NUGS-BACKED UNIVERSITY OF GHANA STUDENTS DEMONSTRATION

An African proverb has it that a toad does not run in day time for nothing. If this is anything to go by, then students of the University of Ghana, Legon, may not be on the streets for nothing. They really might have a legitimate case and should be listened to. Over the years demonstrations have always been used to express dissatisfaction over a policy or an action. Today’s demonstration by the students of the University of Ghana should not be seen as a misplaced priority. It is true that a solution to a problem has never been found on the street, rather through dialogue. Reports that all attempts by the students to dialogue with the University of Ghana authorities have not gone through are unfortunate. The action of the students may be seen by many as an act of disrespect because at their last meeting with the Deputy Minister of Education, Mahama Ayariga, they were asked to call off the planned demonstration. It must be emphasised that it is the students who are wearing the shoes and feel how severe the pain is. Based on the University of Ghana calendar, students at the main campus are expected to register by August 5. If they fail to meet this deadline they will not be able to write their end of semester examination in December. This means automatic deferments of their programmes. The sad truth is that any student who cannot pay his or her fees this year may not be able to do so next year because fees at the University of Ghana have always been on the ascendancy. The students therefore have a legitimate case.

A close look at developments at the University of Ghana appears the current management is not listening to divergent views. The current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, on assuming office is reported to have stated that students should not bring their poverty to destroy his policies. This was at a meeting, when a student observed that the decongestion policy will prevent many poor students from studying at the University of Ghana. True to his words, all pleas by the Legon SRC and NUGS to bring a human face to the decongestion policy have fallen on deaf ears. Come next academic year which begins in August the lucky students who will have rooms in the traditional halls of the university will pay four hundred Ghana cedis as hall fees. In addition Level 200 and 300 students in the Humanities and Business School will pay academic facility user fees of four hundred and twenty seven Ghana cedis and four hundred and eighty two Ghana cedis, with those in the physical science paying five hundred and twelve Ghana cedis. The story is worse for those pursuing the Distance Degree programme and those at the Accra City Campus considering the disparity in facilities at their disposal and the fees they pay.

In a statement issued on July 18 and signed by the Acting Registrar, F.K. Yeboah, the University agreed that students can pay 50 percent of academic facility user fees and pay the remaining at the commencement of the second semester. In the absence of no reduction, this is a feasible alternative but the truth is that paying in instalment does not take away the effects of the fee increment on parents. Looking at these figures aside from feeding, photocopying, clothing, one can conclude that not even the best paid Civil Servant in Ghana can afford to cater for two children at the University of Ghana, and also think of building a house let alone buying a car. As for peasant farmers, fishermen and petty traders at Makola, the least said about them, the better.

Students of the University of Ghana have been chained with these sky rocketing fees for far too long, and if there is anything to lose in demonstrating, it is rightly the chains. The University authorities have argued that they have installed CCT Cameras in the school in an effort to curb exam malpractice and these among other things have led to the increases in fees. This is certainly a good move but why is it that the cost cannot be spread over a period of time? In any case how good is good when it can undo the happiness of many. In fact, if this is allowed to go on, chances are that the public funded University of Ghana will soon be an institution for only the rich and this must not be entertained. Management of the University must bear in mind that they have been entrusted to run a public facility and should not run it like their private property. They must be told in clear terms that the University of Ghana is made up of students of single mothers, teachers, fishermen and even orphans who have to travel to farming communities during semester breaks to work on farms and get money for school fees. May God save students of the University of Ghana, as they fight for their legitimate right.

BY: GEORGE ASEKERE, A JOURNALIST

2011,world press freedom day

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

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.

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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.

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Attacks on Journalists

 

COMMENTARY ON CONDEMNING ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK.

If lots were cast today for the most admired journalist in Ghana, it will surely fall on Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. This is because Anas succeeded in carrying out his duties without any physical attack. It is possible that the very people who praise Anas today would have been the very first to condemn and call for his head if he had been arrested, attacked or harmed in the course of his duties. Like the Biblical Pharisees, the truth about Ghanaians is that, they will praise you if you win and betray you if you are handicapped. Thank God Anas is safe.

Article 162 Clause 4 of the 1992 constitution states that editors and publishers of newspapers and other institutions of the Mass Media shall not be subject to control or interference by government nor shall they be penalized or harassed for their editorial opinions and views for the content of their publication.

Whilst Ghanaian journalists can freely work without fear of governmental interference and harassments, the same cannot be said of individuals and security agencies. Attacks on journalists in the course of their work are not new at least, to people in the inky fraternity. It is not true that attacks on journalists prevailed only in the era of military rule. Journalists have been attacked even under democratically elected Presidents in Ghana.

Not too long ago, some journalists were attacked, vilified and abused by security men of former President Kufour at his Private residence in Accra. After that incident, a camera man of the state television, GTV, was assaulted in Accra in the course of duty. Before condemnations of that attack could end, another journalist with the State Radio, Radio Ghana, was attacked by uniformed Policemen in Tamale during the district level elections. As if there was a perpetual attempt to frustrate journalists, another group of Policemen on February 8, 2011 attacked and assaulted a reporter and a cameraman of TV3 at Ofankor in Accra when they were lawfully carrying out their duties.

The list is endless. Nobody doubts the crucial role journalists have played in bringing Ghana this far. The sad aspect of the story is that these journalists were attacked whilst trying to expose some wrongs in society in accordance with the laws of Ghana. The GBC and TV3 journalists in particular acted in line with Article 12 section one of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics which states that, a journalist shall obtain information, photographs and illustrations only by straightforward means. Besides, section two of Article 12 of the same GJA Code of Ethics says that, the use of other means can be justified only by overriding considerations of the public interest.

The attacks on these journalists are therefore unjustified, barbaric and must be condemned in no certain terms. In fact they must not be allowed to continue in Ghana where the doors of justice are open. It is high time the Ghana Journalists Association started biting after years of barking. If lawyers jumped in to defend Amina accused of causing fear & panic over the mass sex allegation why can’t the same be extended to journalists? What is our priority as a nation? Has the National Media Commission forgotten that it has a mandate under Article 167(a) of the 1992 constitution to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media for mass communication? How long will the Police Administration continue to allow a few irresponsible policemen to continue to frustrate journalists?

Maybe the time has come for media owners to start taking legal action against people who attack their workers after all, it is not wrong for the mountain to go to Mohamed if Mohammed fails to go to the mountain. Enemies of journalists should bear in mind that a war against media practitioners is tantamount to fetching water with a basket. In fact no weapon fashioned against journalists shall prosper here in Ghana.

Yesterday it was GBC, today it is TV3, tomorrow it could be another, so let us all help protect our journalists.

BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC RADIO NEWS, ACCRA.

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nmc performance

Performance of NMC

COMMENTARY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NATIONAL MEDIA COMMISSION (NMC).

One unhealthy phenomenon that has gained notoriety in the Ghanaian media is the shameful display and publication of pornographic material. Another is the deliberate publication of lies, insinuations and unlawful attacks on personalities intended to tarnish their image. It is sad to see a newspaper headline that reads: ‘How to seduce a woman’. Aside from this, all manner of unprintable words are used to attack, malign and vilify high profile personalities in Ghana right from the presidency to the Clergy. These publications are available on news stands for all, including school pupils to read without regard for morality and the potential harm they could cause children and the entire society.

The principles of media freedom are crucial to the development of a free and just society and those principles are not and must not be negotiable. Unfortunately some enemies of decency in the media have taken undue advantage of this freedom to demonize almost every public figure. Some journalists are prepared to sacrifice intellectual honesty and moral integrity for political mediocrity. The framers of the 1992 Constitution perhaps envisaged this and thus made a provision in Chapter Twelve of the Constitution for a regulatory body which led to the establishment of the National Media Commission in July 1993 following the passage of Act 449.

The NMC has an objective to ensure the freedom and independence of the Media for mass communication or information. The Commission also has a constitutional mandate to take all appropriate measures to ensure the highest journalistic standards in the mass media including investigation, mediation and settlement of complaints made against or by the press or other mass media. The question is: has the NMC lived up to expectation?

Without an apology, fear or favor the answer is a big no. In Africa, the dog is expected to bow in shame when the goat chases away a thief. This is how one expected the National Media Commission to do when a couple of years back, the Methodist Church took it upon itself to initiate legal action against newspapers that publish pornographic material. Whilst the NMC must shoulder the blame for the insanity in the media, it is only fair to ask why they have performed so abysmally over the years.

It is said that unto whom much is given much is expected. So the question is how much has the State given the NMC to enable it to perform its function effectively? According to the Chairman of the NMC, Kabral Blay Amihere, the Commission receives only one hundred thousand Ghana Cedi (GH100, 000) annually from government for its activities including salaries of its workers. The Commission currently has 22 workers out of which only four are core staff. The NMC issues about 100 certificates every two months for media establishments across the country. The four core workers of the commission are expected to monitor everything in the over two thousand (2,000) media houses in the country including the over 200 FM stations and 10 television Stations with twenty five channels.

Unlike media houses such as the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and Graphic Communications Group Limited, the building of the National Media Commission is nothing good to send a visitor to. This perhaps explains why people would hardly visit the NMC on excursion. Despite these challenges, the NMC could have still done better. A critical look at the personalities who constitute the National Media Commission raises serious question marks as to why these tried and tested individuals will complain of darkness instead of lighting a candle. Better still, how useful will it be for a man to worry and do virtually nothing about a terrible dream he had the previous night?

Apart from the government, it is common knowledge that the commission receives financial assistance from the UNDP, the German Development Service and others including the Frederic Ebert Foundation. Is the Commission telling Ghanaians that all things being equal, the insanity in the media will continue unabated in the name of resource constraints?

Whilst calling on government to equip the National Media Commission to enable it to discharge its constitutionally mandated duties effectively, the NMC must initiate actions to convince Ghanaians that it has what it takes to rid the Ghanaian Media of insanity.

Journalists who have become foot soldiers, remote controlled doomsayers and bootlickers for politicians and political parties ought to know that, their actions, are equal to biting their own tongues and must be told in clear terms that they are eating the wrong meat.

A word to the wise remains enough.

BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC, RADIO NEWSROOM