DON'T DISTORT FACTS, ASANTEHENE CAUTIONS GHANAIAN MEDIA
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu has
advised the media to be abreast of approved processes in the selection and
enstoolment of chiefs and skins in order to bring social harmony in the
country.
He said in as much as the media thrives on speed and accuracy in their
reportage, there should not be any breach of disrespect to traditional laws,
customs and processes by any journalist or media personnel, so an not to
tarnish the honour and dignity of traditional authorities in the country.
It is
therefore of utmost importance that journalists make the conscious effort to
educate themselves on the various traditions and customs to better inform the
public especially on chieftaincy matters either through news reportage or
discussions on radio and television.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the advice when he
hosted the media in the Ashanti region to a reception at the Manhyia Palace in
Kumasi.
He underscored the vital role of the media in covering events at the
Manhyia Palace.
However, nothing should be done to either tarnish his image as
Asantehene or bring him and the Manhyia Palace into disrepute.
Otumfuo Osei
Tutu emphasized that he nor Manhyia Palace dabble in partisan
politics, but will always lend support to the government of the day for speedy
development of the country.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association,
Dr. Roland Afffail Monney noted that Manhyia Palace has no parallel in terms of
prestige and is a veritable source of news in Ghana.
There is therefore the need
to find a strategic balance between how journalists cover and report news
events from the Manhyia Palace and respect the sanctity of Asante chieftaincy
traditions and customs.
He expressed gratitude to the Asantehene, for hosting
the media fraternity in the region, adding that the gesture shows the
importance Otumfuo Osei Tutu attaches to the media.
Dr. Monney again expressed
the gratitude of the GJA to the Asantehene for the honour he bestowed on the
media fraternity as the Guest Speaker at the last GJA Dinner and Awards Night.
He proposed that Otumfuo Osei Tutu consider sponsoring a GJA award to extol the
importance he attaches to the media.
The Asantehene had earlier on met with
heads of media houses, news editors and regional correspondents on how to
further strengthen relations between the media and Manhyia Palace.
It was
proposed at the meeting that a press corps be established to provide accurate
and objective reportage on events at the Manhyia Palace.
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