Ghana’s media has sold its standards for clicks; it is time to reclaim our glory
There was a time when the Ghanaian media was the standard-bearer of ethical journalism, value-based content, and national conscience. It was a profession of gatekeepers, where producers directed, editors checked, and facts mattered. Sadly, Ghana has lost that glory. We have traded high standards and quality for propaganda and clicks. Radio and television stations now […]
Ghana once prided itself on a tradition of ethical journalism, high standards, and a commitment to national conscience. However, the country has since traded away its integrity for sensationalism and online clicks. Radio and television outlets now prioritize sensational content above all else, allowing any story to gain views, regardless of its impact on public welfare.
News programs have morphed into opinion shows, with individuals expressing themselves recklessly, without context or fact-checking, much to the detriment of society. It appears as though we are lost in a jungle, devoid of values, and lacking any sense of guidance. Yet, we remain quick to compare ourselves to other nations that prosper due to their adherence to principles and values.
The art of language no longer holds the same weight. Profanity and unprintable words are now deemed acceptable. Presenters focus on delivering rather than analyzing, transforming news into a performance. The question remains: How can we advance as a nation without a solid foundation? The Constitution granted media freedom, but it also came with responsibility.
Article 162(1) guarantees freedom and independence for the media, while Article 162(4) protects editors from control and harassment for their views. Article 21(1)(a) guarantees every Ghanaian the right to freedom of speech and expression. However, this freedom is not absolute and comes with a duty, as outlined in Article 164. Media freedom is not a license to defame, incite, or pollute the public sphere.
The National Media Commission (NMC) was established in 1993 to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media, establish and maintain the highest journalistic standards, investigate complaints, and hold media accountable. Despite this, the NMC, along with other bodies responsible for checking and balancing the media, now appear to be inactive, all in the name of media freedom, pluralism, and competition.
Without standards, pluralism becomes noise, and media freedom turns into anarchy. It is time for action: The NMC must enforce its content standards, investigate, and sanction violators. The GJA and GIBA must purge themselves and provide proper training. Peer review must be reinstated, and the Code of Ethics must be enforced. Media owners must invest in producers and return to the days when producers directed what should be said and what should not be said.
The public must also take responsibility by punishing clickbait, switching off substandard content, and patronizing quality sources. Media freedom, as guaranteed by Article 162, was intended to build democracy, not undermine it. Let us return to the days of standards, values, and truth, for without them, we have nothing but a loudspeaker in a jungle.
Written by urgent.news from Adom Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
