LAST week, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, told the whole world that his outfit was considering blocking all social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube etcetera, etc,) on the eve and also on Election Day.
ACCORDING to the police boss, if that would take to safeguard the peace and security of the country, nothing at all or anybody can do to stop him from blocking social media sites on Election Day.
INFERRING, what the IGP means is that if social media networks are not shut down on Election Day, there will be chaos either during the elections or afterwards.
BUT if that is what the Police Administration think then we are sorry to tell them that they have gotten it all wrong in this era of media pluralism coupled with free speech.
WE are, therefore, not surprised that the IGP’s comments since last week continue to attract more condemnation from the public, with lots of people, especially media practitioners, expressing disappointment in the Police Administration.
FOR instance, one of such media gurus is the Dean of the School of Information and Communications Studies at the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo.
SHE has personally indicated her preparedness to protest any such move by the IGP or government as an institution.
PROF. Gadzekpo cannot understand why the IGP should compare Ghana to Uganda when it comes to democratic credentials where the latter recently during her elections closed down all social media sites.
“WHY are we following moves by countries whose democracy is in question? Why would they be our role model,” she asked in reference to the Uganda case, saying: “I hope the IGP rethinks it.”
WHAT probably the IGP seems to have forgotten is that any such move(s) will no doubt dent the country’s democratic credentials.
IN any case this is not the first time we are having national elections in this country.
SINCE 1992 till date we have had six (6) successive, competitive elections which have endeared us to the rest of the world, thereby earning us the name “Beacon of Hope of Africa” although there were few skirmishes here and there.
WE believe this year’s General Elections will not be an exception.
WHAT the police and other security apparatus should do instead is to ensure the integrity of the ballot and safety of lives and properties.
AS for the media any attempt to gag it will undermine the principles of democracy and by extension, defeat the purpose of our course.
THE media is the fourth estate of the realm and, for that matter, must be treated as such without any interferences or censorships.
FOR example, imagine what will happen of a situation where there will be a ban on radio or television broadcast, or a ban on emails because people will make irresponsible statements that can probably lead to chaos.
CERTAINLY, when it happens like that the governance of this country will come to a standstill, because we will all be in blackout.
HOWEVER, we think the media must be very circumspective in its reportage.
WE have a role to play to ensure that the current relative peace we are enjoying is not jeopardised through any action(s) or inaction of ours.
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