Indeed, it is not for nothing; in fact, it is for a lot, that a whole chapter of the mother of all laws of the motherland is written about journalism practice.
Forget about the ‘media,’ ‘communication’ and ‘mass communication’ add-ons. The add-ons should add not subtract from journalism and those trained to practice it.
Constitutional institutions of state (except the judiciary which is constantly under congress attack), seem not to be bothered by free, and especially fair election.
I have closely watched journalists report election results. Today if some people are in election talk trouble, it is not because they are professional journalists; it is because they are fake ones. So don’t read this piece along that line of charlatan journalism.
During a radio discussion of election results in 1996, a congress person disputed a constituency result which disagreed with what he had on a sheet of paper. Before long, the figure was changed to match his. Since then, I have always suspected the authenticity and veracity of ‘certified’ results. It’s the reason why, since then, I have always urged journalists to verify ‘certified’ results published by the EC.
This 2016 elections, if journalists want to live up to their professional responsibilities, they should be able to verify for a true reflection of the one person one vote constitutional requirement, ‘certified’ EC results, before writing or announcing them. It’s achievable at all the EC points of declaration. Journalists can do what Metro TV did which led to the Adwoa Safo exposure of massive election fraud in 2012.
Guaranteeing each vote cast is counted for the individual it is cast for is a daunting journalism task. So also is journalistically ensuring no vote is counted which was not cast. It’s a context of a congress corrupted election system with everything public bribery contaminated. Congresspeople have emptied the contents of the treasury into their private pockets, hoping to bribe to gang-steal the election. It is going to be very difficult not to report ‘certified’ but tainted results. It makes what I am suggesting here seem absurd, insane or whatever. But love for the motherland demands that from journalists.
I have partaken in election reporting over the years. Looking back, all what has been happening, given the 2012 experience, has been below the rudiments of the practice. I am today proposing that effective election reporting in the public interest is only possible with verification of ‘certified’ results; transmitted electronically or in whatever form. If that were to happen, the motherland would forever be liberated from thieves who seek election win only to thieve hijack the national purse. With that thievery, they end up suspending, even halting the motherland’s development in its tracks.
Beyond the ‘rented press,’ there are few, very, very few, media houses that are not owned, cowed or easily blackmailed by congress. Of all the ventures, including those supposedly owned by us all in the motherland, perhaps only 10% will fall within the independent ambit.
In fact, it is an avowed congress strategy to own each and everyone in the motherland by monopolising the means of public communication. They are determined to gag social media in addition. Then, there are the electronic manipulation devices for transmitting results that suppress some results and not others.
The workable strategy may be cooperation and collaboration of the few establishments convinced, committed and determined to publish ACTUAL election results and not necessarily ‘certified’ ones.
First, ensure presence at all of the 29,000 or so polling stations of people trusted to transmit polling station results. Find a way of sending cameras to the collation venues. That should be perfectly legal. Develop verifiable collation systems.
With mobilisation like that, you can be sure you are publishing verified ‘certified’ results.
The EC must be compelled to publish the results on its website simultaneously with the announcement. That will be of immense help to the verification of ‘certified’ results.
Let the professional watchdog journalists who believe in upholding the constitutional provision of one compatriot one vote (cast and counted for whom the caster chose), arise and defend truth and right in the motherland. I don’t envy the professional journalist determined to report election results in 2016. The cards stacked against truthful accurate reporting are in enormity.
Praises were all over the place, including a New York Times article, for the ‘media’s role’ in the 2000 elections. Congress has learnt its ‘mistakes’ in allowing radio stations to change the course of their one-party rule project that year. So now they are going to jam, scramble, scratch and outright ban any means by which verified election results can escape their control. It’s your challenge professional journalists of the motherland. It’s unknown whether electronic transmission is for speed or accuracy or both. Anyhow, for speed yes, accuracy certainly not.
By Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh