Sustain lively nature of media landscape - Westcott

Page 25: April 29, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE British High Commissioner in Accra, Mr Nicholas Westcott, has urged journalists in the country to sustain the lively nature of the media landscape, saying that lively nature was good for democracy and development.
Mr Westcott was speaking during a courtesy call on the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ibrahim Awal, in Accra yesterday.
The High Commissioner was accompanied by Ms Rosie Tapper, the Second Secretary, Political, Press and Public Affairs, at the British High Commission.
Mr Westcott said although there had been a decline in readership in most parts of the world, the media in Ghana were still growing and had not experienced much of the decline.
He said the media landscape was very lively in Ghana and that the use of online services and information would enrich the media in Ghana and propel them for the future.
For his part, Mr Awal noted that there had been a phenomenal growth and development of the media in Ghana and recalled that from the mere two newspapers and one television station in the not-too-distant past, the country now had over 36 newspapers, six television stations and more than 100 radio stations.
He said the company was determined to play its part in promoting democracy and development through its publications.
He said the GCGL had also instituted an annual governance dialogue as part of its contribution to sustaining democracy.
Responding to a question on the coverage of elections and political parties, the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the Constitution insisted on fair and objective coverage for all political parties.
He said the National Media Commission (NMC) also monitored the work of the state-owned media to insulate them against governmental control.
He said as part of its work, the NMC issued guidelines on the coverage of elections in every election year to ensure that the state-owned media provide fair and objective reportage on the parties.
Mr Tetteh said the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) also collaborated with the Electoral Commission during elections to ensure access to certified results.