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The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng has warned: “Any journalist, who becomes a spokesperson for a candidate or for any political party during election, ceases to be a journalist.”

He emphasized that “If a journalist who has the privilege of being called a journalist is abusing it by becoming actively involved as a frontline communicator for any political party or candidate, that person is clearly violating the ethical basis of the profession and must be sanctioned.”

Mr. Gyan-Apenteng gave the warning in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle in Tamale during the official inauguration of a seven Member Northern Region Media Advisory Committee (RAMC) recently.

According to him, journalists were supposed to be resolute, neutral, fair and balanced in their line of duty and also serve as the conduit for peace, unity and fairness but not to succumb to any influence either political or monetary.

Mr. Gyan-Apenteng noted that the media must strictly adhere to the guidelines and principles of election reporting and not only be part of the fairness agenda, but to ensure that the election was peaceful and that the outcome was truly reflected the will of the people.

“What this means is that [journalist] must give fair access to all issues and to all candidates. And even more importantly, we must become alert to efforts or strategies some people might use to probably abuse and misuse the media by forcing their weights through to get certain false allegations and some unfair comments published or aired.”

The NMC Chairman, therefore, encouraged the media to understand the issues as they were framed to avoid any possible abuses by politicians and their candidates in their desperations to win power.

Mr. Gyan-Apenteng also encouraged the journalists not to attach personal emotions, desires and partisan views in their reportage, especially in the 2016 elections, which promises to be crucial, but should rather place high premium on the checking and cross-checking of facts in every information they come across.

Meanwhile, the NRMAC is chaired by Mr. George K. Debrie, a Deputy Registrar, Council Secretariat at University for Development Studies (UDS) and is to strengthen the Commission’s ability to monitor and engage with media houses in the region to live up to standard. Establishment of the regional Media Advisory Committee, supported by the European Union, is also to assist the NMC deal with matters relating to media and peace-building; and also help settle complaints by or against the media in the region, in accordance with article 167(b) of the 1992 constitution.