There are many powerful tools of expressions in the world. People find ways of expressing their thoughts through different mediums of communication to get the desired result.
One of the ways of expressions has always been through contents provided for by the media and it’s all for the right reasons, depending on how it is viewed.
Despite the power of the media and broadcast channels in bringing the desired change needed in society through their amplifying of problems just so relevant authorities will be updated, since it became a dominant feature, like most ingenuities of man, it has suffered an unruly corruption.
While some blame the laxity and negligence of relevant authorities such as the National Communications Authority in dealing with the excesses of media contents which are considered inimical, others view the situation from a tangent of these institutions being overwhelmed with the growing number of channels and broadcast stations in the country.
In a joint monitoring report from the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA), it recorded that the second part of November saw an increasing trend of 64.7% in the overall number of reported cases of unethical and unlawful content on the airwaves above the first fortnight report released on November 16, 2023.
In the specific categories of unlawful and unethical content, fake lottery increased six-fold (676%) while occultism doubled by a whopping 105 %.
On the contrary, money doubling decreased by 23%, while money rituals decreased by16%.
Furthermore, the report indicated that the top 10 stations against whom complaints were made include Adwenpa TV, Asomafo TV, Elephant TV, X TV, Diamond TV, Big TV, Passion TV, Funny TV, Best TV and Energy TV
Additionally, Asomafo TV, Adwenpa TV, Diamond TV, X TV, Funny TV, Big TV, Passion TV, Elephant TV, Best TV, Energy TV, Nkabom TV and Seekers TV cited in the fortnight report continued to carry out their offensive broadcast after the NMC and NCA publicly cautioned them.
Instituting regulatory action against offenders
Indeed, what is meant to be wholesome content meant to change the narrative of happenings has been marred by some groups of unprofessional personalities who are more skewed to sensationalism and hype for content which will endear to people rather than follow the rule.
One of such tussles, especially with the NMC has to do with Ouna TV and FM station over a perceived ‘dangerous’ and unprofessional utterances of one of its presenters.
On the related case of Onua TV and Onua FM, the Commission filed a notice of suspension of authorization with NCA after the extended time expired without the stations apologizing or withdrawing their offensive content.
The stations have subsequently filed a case in court claiming a right to carry the content the Commission finds offensive.
At this point, securing professionalism within the media space is important, and as much as possible, the relvant authorities must crack the whip on stations which flout the regulations without necessarily sending the wrong signal of political witchhunt.
It must tread on the side of caution and affirm its dedication to ensure free, pluralistic and responsible media in Ghana, while entrenching the regulations set aside to deal with personalities who flout the laws.
On the other, the public must in its own way be ‘citizens and not spectators’, by reporting such offensive contents, particularly because of its impact on impressionable children.
It must draw the attention of stakeholders to any content they consider unacceptable by the standards of media ethics, Ghanaian culture, traditions and norms.
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