General News of Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Source: GNA

National Security adviser denies alleged Jubilee House meeting

Accra, Dec. 1, GNA - The National Security Adviser, Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah(Rtd)has denied holding any meeting with other security heads and former President Jerry John Rawlings on the murder of the former Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Mr Roko Frimpong. A statement issued by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Tuesday and signed by Mr Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, stated that neither Brig-Gen Nunoo-Mensah nor the National Security Coordinator Lt-Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (RTD) had ever been invited by the former President to any meeting to discuss the murder.

"No security meeting has ever been held at the Jubilee House, part of which now houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the statement said. The "Today" newspaper had claimed that Brig-Gen Nunoo-Mensah and a number of people had met at Jubilee House with former President Rawlings to discuss the murder.

It cautioned the media against "the increasing tendency" to knowingly and deliberately peddle falsehood with the intention to frame up especially government officials and members of the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

"To make up a story knowing very well that there's no iota of truth in it, and presenting it to the public in the manner that the tabloid did, cannot be said to be good journalistic practice."

Government said it hopes the new National Media Commission (NMC) "would be effective in performing its constitutional role by ensuring that the media works to enhance the country's development rather than fan trouble through deliberate falsehood".

"This definitely is a matter that government will be forwarding to the NMC for action, but we do not think that our newspapers and others media outlets should be engaging in this kind of journalism," the statement said. 01 Dec. 09