Independent broadcasters advised to be impartial

THE Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has appealed to broadcasters to remain impartial in their dealings with political parties to ensure free and fair opportunities for all parties in the upcoming general election.
The Executive Secretary of GIBA, Mr Gerald Ankomah, who made the appeal in Accra, in an interview with the Daily Graphic , noted that, "In so doing, you will not only be seen to be contributing to the peace and security of the nation, but also providing fair, accurate and comprehensive information to enable Ghanaians to make intelligent political decisions."
He cautioned that as gatekeepers, broadcasters, particularly those in the private broadcasting sector, must avoid activities that may compromise their integrity or damage their credibility in order to be effective in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, it was incumbent on broadcasters to look at the immediacy of radio in particular to avoid reporting on issues of ethnicity, which might lead people into conflict.
Mr Ankomah said members of the association were also required to give fair and adequate opportunities for citizens to express their divergent views on issues of public interest.
He urged them to abide by the Guidelines for Political Reporting and Broadcasting Standards issued by the National Media Commission when discharging their duties.
He said broadcasters must be circumspect on the source of their information and the effect it would have on listeners, taking into consideration the cultural aspect of the information and whether it was good or not for the public.
Mr Ankomah also expressed concern about the calibre of personnel employed by some radio stations, resulting in the numerous problems associated with such stations.
Mr Ankomah said producers working with independent broadcasters should also put out stories, taking into account various factors such as cross-checking of facts, by talking to all sides implicated in a story and the effect of the story on the public and children in particular.
He commended all independent broadcasters for their contribution towards the success of the recent revision of the Voters Register, stating that the massive turnout of Ghanaians, in response to radio and television publicity, was a pointer to the effective campaign they undertook.