In order to widen its scope of regulating and monitoring the activities of media houses at the regional level, the National Media Commission (NMC) on Friday inaugurated a seven (7) member Regional Media Advisory Committee (RMAC) in Bolgatanga.
The committee will not only serve as a backup to the commission’s under resourced secretariat but will as well engage with media personalities in the Upper East Region in maintaining peace before, during and after this years’ general elections.
Chairman of National Media Commission, Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng during the inauguration urged the members to ensure that the work of journalists and the media in the region fall within the confines of law and regulations.
While commending members of the committee for their gesture of patriotism in representing the commission at the regional level, Mr. Apenteng called for support and corporation from institutions, organizations and individuals to assist the committee to execute the task ahead of them especially in this election year.
“The general elections of 2016 will hopefully confirm to the whole world that our democracy has come of age and that we can brave the odds to produce our desire outcome of free and fair elections in an atmosphere of peace and calm.” He noted.
Speaking on the Content Standard Regulation (CSR), the NMC chairman said the regulations required is in the public interest to make the electronic media more alive to its responsibilities. The new law demands media organizations to seek permission from the commission before broadcasting a particular content.
According to him the switching from analogue to digital terrestrial television this year is likely to bring in more broadcasting channels and therefore the need for quality standards in broadcasting.
“It is important that standards are kept high despite the numbers. The evidence suggests that we must pay attention to broadcasting content so that we do not turn a positive resources and asset into a cause for regret and pain, as has been the experience in some countries.” He emphasized.
He also called upon media houses to ensure free, fair and balanced reportage and disclosed that the NMC will soon provide a requisite training for at least one journalist at every media house to become the conscience of that media house.
The seven member regional media advisory committee is made up of Robert Ajene, a retired educationist and former first rector of Bolgatanga Polytechnic as chairman. The members include Eric Amoh, Upper East Regional chairman of Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Rev. Father Dennis Tong, Parish Priest of Anglican church-Bolgatanga and Edward Adeti, Upper East Regional correspondent for Metro TV, Starr fm and Dispatch Newspaper.
Others are Bob Teter, Lawyer-human rights activist, Alfred Ndago, a retired educationist and former principal of Saint John Bosco College of Education and Agnes Atayela, retired public servant, Ghana Health Service.
Chairman of the committee Mr. Ajene said though there is freedom of speech, the media has a paramount responsibility to maintain peace and good governance in their reportage. He thanked the NMC for the confidence reposed in them and asked for support from the public in achieving their mandatory role.
The establishment of the Regional Advisory Committee is in collaboration with the National Media Commission and the Media and Governance Institute (MaGI) with support from the European Union (EU).
By: Joshua Asaah/a1radioonline.com/Ghana
