Mustapha Hamid, Minister of Information
The Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid, has stated that the President of the Ghana Journalists’ Association (GJA), Affail Monney, committed no crime when he warned journalists in the country to be cautious in reporting alleged corruption cases.
According to him, Mr. Monney’s admonition to journalists not to conduct media trials on persons alleged to have perpetrated corruption when no court had declared them guilty was in the right direction.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on investigative journalism on free movement and migration of people organised by Media Response, an NGO, Mr Hamid said the statement was rather to enhance constructive journalism and not the opposite.
“In my view, I think Mr Monney has committed no crime in his statement; it was very correct and very purposeful. I don’t think you (Mr. Monney) should regret the statement,” he indicated.
Mr Monney has come under attack from many concerned Ghanaians after he had issued a press statement on the matter, with some people maintaining that the statement was an affront to investigative journalism.
But Mr. Hamid defended him, saying it was wrong to assume that the statement was meant to discourage investigative journalism in the country.
Touching on the workshop, he said it is important that journalists learn the skills of investigative journalism and media practice very well to help them improve their reportage.
He hinted that government would revive the media fund to help ensure that media practitioners receive in-service training.
Mr. Monney, who was also at the opening ceremony of the workshop, commended Media Response for organising the programme.
He said “it is better journalists continue to update their knowledge in the practice of journalism as the world of journalism is becoming more complex and dynamic.”
By Gibril Abdul Razak