Accra, May 3, GNA - The National Media Commission on Wednesday urged the State media to "lift themselves above the political divide and politicisation of news" as the country approached critical elections in 2012.

It said the media should rather display longstanding professional values of accuracy, fairness, objectivity and equity to 93enrich and protect" the country's democracy in consonance with the ideals of public service journalism.

"The State media must find the right balance to give the government= of the day adequate coverage of its programmes and policies whilst giving fair coverage to all other parties in the political landscape," said Kabral Bl= ay Amihere, Chairman of the NMC in Accra at the inauguration of the Board of Directors of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL). Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, an academician, chairs the nine-member Board. The other members include Ms Sarah Akrofi Quarcoo, a Journalist, Dr Doris Dartey, an Academician, Mr Kofi Nyantakyi, a media consultant, Mr Alex Bonny, a Trade Unionist and Mr Adu Anane-Antwi, an Accountant.

The rest are Mr Mohammed Affum, a Journalist and Public Relations Practitioner, Mr Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo, and Mr Kwesi Adjei Kersi, Acting Managing Director of the GCGL.

Mr Amihere referred the leadership of the State media to Article 19 o= f the NMC Act enjoining all public funded media to make available to the President, access to their medium for purposes of announcement or publication deemed in the interest of the public.

He enjoined them to recognise core journalistic values in the exercise of their duties, reminding the State media not to lose sight of its original mandate as a public service media with obligations that would and ensure freedom, justice, unity, stability and equitable development in Ghana. The NMC Chairman said governing boards of State media, in their supervisory and advisory role, should provide direction that would ensure that public media practitioners continued in the best traditions of professional excellence and ethical conduct.

He noted that the competitive nature of the media landscape called for the State-owned media to explore their potentials to self-sufficiency, urging governing boards to promote accountability, sound business practices and to respect best practices in corporate governance.

Mr Amihere noted that there was every potential for Graphic and its affiliated publications to 93survive without being drawn into the vortex o= f partisan politics", and should thus continue in the traditions of its pioneer editors.

He said the publications of the GCGL would be judged by the quality an= d relevance of its contribution to good governance and by its input in the promotion of a united, prosperous and stable Ghana and the commitment to high professional standards.

"I know the leadership of Graphic is always seeking to pay high dividends to the State but the dividends that the people of Ghana want Graphic to declare annually is not necessarily in abundance of gold and silver but quality and excellent journalism that deepen our democracy, development and peace.

"And ultimately, when judgement day comes, in whatever form, those o= f us whom destiny has chosen to be associated with media development in the new Ghana will be judged individually for our role, for which reason member= s of the new board must become profiles in the defence and promotion of an independent Graphic and good corporate governance," Amihere said. Mr Kersi, Acting Managing Director of GCGL said the company, despite recent challenges was poised to maintain its lead in the industry and to expand its frontier in the coming years. He pledged management's support to the new board, assuring members t= hat staff of the company were determined to achieve set targets to meet stakeholder expectations. Ms Akrofi-Quarcoo assured the NMC of the commitment of the Board to do its best to uplift the image of the GCGL and called for co-operation from the management and staff.