Editorial: Classic Stomach Journalism

Stomach journalism comes in a motley of forms and it takes painstaking effort to discern the aberration when it is in full flight. The Daily Graphic�s Night Editor, A.B.A. Fuseni, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) hatchet-man whose dirty footprints in local journalism still emit an offensive odour, is at it again. The tangible dividends he derived from previous practice of stomach journalism are too glaring to be over-looked. His indecorous interventions, sometimes gibberish, on pro-NDC radio stations alongside others of his ilk, nearly shattered the peace of this country even as he remained in the employ of a state newspaper. So crude were his tactics that eventually, management of the Graphic Communication Group was compelled to publicly pull the brakes on him to save the establishment from further embarrassment. Enter a new political administration which recognized the role he played, especially in the compilation of names of persons perceived to be politically incorrect for onward transmission to the Castle and therefore the guillotines, and he is tasked with fresh dirty assignments. As author of special propaganda stories from the Castle- some bearing his bylines while others don�t- he is an untouchable personality, covered as he is by the hands of the political power of the day. A.B.A. Fuseni has every right to relish the many privileges at his disposal- membership of boards and immunity from management sanctions inter alia. Strangely, A.B.A. Fuseni wants to be judge over other media establishments in the country as he re-claims his place on the pro-NDC radio stations. Last week, his excitement knew no bounds as he hurled mud at perceived �media foes� of the ruling party. To journalists who assemble at the Labone Coffee Shop to socialize, he relished his unenviable feat of labeling them �Coffee Shop Mafia�, topping the contemptuous description with an insult that they- all of them- fabricate stories. May God have mercy on the nincompoop as he pushes his euphoria beyond reasonable limit. We would have definitely not bothered to give him space on our pages but for his effrontery at adding us to the list of targets and describing us as fabricators of stories. While we do not really care about how A.B.A. Fuseni undertakes his Castle-designed assignments, we definitely would not allow him to describe us as fabricators of reports, a pastime he has mastered to the admiration of his paymasters. As he oils his newfound friendship with Baby Ansabah, A.B.A Fuseni has, in his characteristic reckless abandon, ignored the fact that the confession by the journalist relates to a period when he was no longer in the employ of the Daily Guide. As a human institution, we make mistakes and when we do, we make amends and apologise accordingly. We do not however engage in fabrications about the opposition or government because that is not only evil, but ungodly. We are certainly unlike those who, out of the expedience of satisfying their hunger, sell their conscience. His decision to engage in such dirty missions is understandable, having been the alleged recipient of largess during the Rawlings� NDC era. He must therefore be able to sing and sing well no matter how much the tunes dent the image of his colleagues and others. For him, no reward for biased reportage and unbridled support is too much even while taking his pay from the good people of Ghana. Integrity is the hallmark of good journalism and this has played a critical role in making Ghana a shining example of an open democratic society. The Daily Guide, in its own humble way, has contributed to journalism ethics in Ghana today in spite of detractive manouvres of the likes of A.B.A. Fuseni. The Daily Guide has not risen from its humble beginnings to the largest selling private newspaper in Ghana by fabricating stories. We wish to state with all humility that our insistence on ethical journalism, as we inform, educate and entertain our esteemed readers, is the reason why we stand out. Associating us with fabricating stories, simply because his newfound friend who took that path once worked in our establishment, can only pass for an idiotic rhetoric.