Winneba (C/R) Oct.12 GNA- The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Wilson Kusi-Atansah has appealed to managers of radio stations, to abide by the constitutional provisions that enjoined them to protect the image of the individual.

He said the protection of the reputation of the individual was one of the fundamental freedoms specifically guaranteed by chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr.Atansah said unfortunately, the radio stations only trumpeted the provisions of Article 162, which talked about the freedom and independence of the media.

He made the appeal when he addressed a durbar at Winneba, as part of activities to mark the fifth Anniversary of Radio Peace, a community radio station.

Mr. Isaac Edumadze, the Central Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, expressed regret about some programmes on radio that created political tensions and advised programme presenters to be circumspective in other not to jeopardise the success of Election 2004. He said the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the Region had increased from 2.7 per cent in 2002 to 5.4 per cent in 2003, making it the second after the Eastern Region on the national scale.

He urged the people to get involved in the campaign against the spread of the pandemic.