Editor in chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper is still shocked at the government decision to boycott all Multimedia platforms.
He said the boycott is “embarrassing” and was surprised people are “not ashamed” to defend such an action.
Baako Jnr referred to the boycott as a "gargantuan unprecedented gaffe."
source of picture: ghanawebHe was on the speakers of MultiTV and Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile on Saturday. He asserted that the quick decision to reverse the boycott is a “manifest futility” of an action which could only derail Ghana’s image as a beacon of press freedom-an image built for the past 20 years.
Government on Tuesday announced its decision to boycott the Multimedia platform accusing its journalists of bias reportage and being unprofessional.
A deputy Information Minister James Agyanim Boateng who announced the boycott and who was also a part of the Newsfile programme showed no regret and was unperturbed about the effects of the boycott.
He said the government was only open and transparent in making public an action they have silently implemented for weeks.
For several minutes, Boateng and the sit-in host Samson Lardy Ayenini who is also an Editor at Joy FM were engaged in a hot argument over the actual reasons for the boycott.
The deputy Minister said contrary to assertions by the “preacher men” all of who were critical about government’s decision, the boycott cannot in anyway be said to be an affront on the country’s young democracy.
He said even in the US which is seen as torch bearer in press freedom, under President Barrack Obama, the administration did not find it illegal to ban Fox News for similar reasons the Mills administration is leveling against the Multimedia Group.
Agyanim Boateng reminded the panelists and other critics that much as media freedom is guaranteed under the constitution, the media must also be seen to be responsible in their operations.
He said the conduct of the Multimedia Group even in the short period of boycott is a disgrace and challenged them to do an introspection and critical self appraisal and purge itself from its unethical practices.
He feared the media landscape is gradually becoming "tyrannical" and blamed the National Communications Authority for not doing their work well.
But the editor of the New Crusading Guide maintained that assuming without admitting the Multimedia Group is irresponsible, the cure for such irresponsibility is definitely not a boycott.
Kweku Baako Jnr said no media utopis in the world arguing even on the international level, media houses make grievous errors in their line of duty.
He said the action by government is “dangerous” and can only be “diabolical”, given some of the reasons it cited for boycotting the platform.
He is sure when the next rating on press freedom is done this issue will be cited and Ghana will take a nose dive.
Kwabena Agyapong who was Press Secretary under president Kufuor and who was present on the show said James Agyanim Boateng cannot pontificate on media responsibility because he presided over a Radio station- Radio Gold in 2008 which incited vigilante NDC youth onto the streets; picked up cudgels to intimidate and create chaos in the country.
He described as hypocritical assertions that president John Mills and his Vice John Mahama were not privy to the decision to boycott the stations.
He said whether or not they were aware the decision is in bad taste.
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