The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Seth Acheampong, has called on people professing as social commentators on both traditional and social media to imbibe a culture of decency in their utterances.
He said it was time social commentators admonished themselves and cultivated that culture of decency,;and that if commentators were able to imbibe it, it would help Ghana to build strong bond and grow as a nation.
“You can speak your mind decently without offending or attacking a personality or an institution.”
Seth Acheampong
Mr. Acheampong said it was time for citizens to advance their view points and opinions to enhance Ghana’s democracy,;adding that, wisdom was not limited to one person’s mind.
He further said it was high time all citizens adverted their minds to the Ghanaian nurturing.
He then emphasized the need not to depart from the nurturing values;that had existed and shaped people’s behavior over the period.
Do not abuse free speech
Also touching on the issue of public utterances, President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has made a passionate appeal to journalists, political commentators and the Ghanaian population at large not to abuse the prevailing atmosphere of free speech in the country as any such mishandling could lead to a negative impact on the territorial integrity of the nation.
Ghana is noted for its vibrant media landscape and its endorsement of freedom of expression particularly under the fourth republican constitution which has been in force for the last twenty-nine (29) years. However, recent developments of disinformation and misinformation on the country’s media space has been a source of worry for many well-meaning Ghanaians.
President, firm believer of free speech
President Akufo-Addo said he and his administration are firm believers of free speech, however, the entire country must be mindful of the fact that unguided utterance could compromise the security of the state as witnessed in other part of the African continent such as Rwanda.
“I am a firm supporter of free speech. The government I lead is also a firm supporter of free speech amply evidenced by the culture of free speech prevailing in the country. However,;we must all bear in mind that words can be as incendiary as guns. The Bible tells us that ‘death and life are in the power of the tongue’. All it took was the mating of words by an irresponsibly journalist amplified;by the power of radio to ignite the tragic genocide in Rwanda.
President Akuffo Addo
“It is important for all of us to recognize that;there is only one country we call home and that is Ghana. We must protect our way of life in the words of the national pledge,;with all our strength and with all our hearts. We should not allow the actions and utterance of a few misguided persons;to jeopardize and destroy the united Ghana we currently possess which is the envy of many on the continent and in the world.”
