General News of Monday, 15 December 2003

Source: GNA

NDC commends GTV for attending conference

Accra, Dec. 15, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) commended Ghana Television (GTV) for responding to a press conference it held on Monday in Accra to explain why the party recently sent a delegation to Abuja, Nigeria.

The commendation came when Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Director of Research of NDC was responding to questions from the press on the party's complaint that the state owned media was marginalizing it in news coverage. He said, "GTV is here with us today. They were missing from our assignments for a long a time. I am sure they have taken our criticisms in good faith".

The media said it would be improper to be imputing that government or some powerful authority was responsible or controlling the state owned media to give scanty publicity to the opposition.

It was held that following the ruling of Supreme Court's in the famous case of NPP versus GBC in which the party sought to be given adequate publicity as the then ruling NDC government, any state owned media that flouted that law should be held for contempt of court. The journalists said it would not be necessary for the NDC or any other opposition party to go to court to contend the same issue but if those responsible for any of the state media failed to give equal attention to the activities of the opposition and was sent to court to show why he should flout the law then it could be found out who was behind "the control of the media".

They said if that happened those in-charge of the institutions would be careful as to how they do their work.

Mr John Mahama, Director of Communications, NDC and an MP of Bole and Mr Muhamad Mumuni, MP for Kumbungu and Ranking Member of Legal and Constitutional Affairs of Parliament agreed with the journalists.