Ghanaian Media: Protect Nation's Stability When Supreme Court Delivers Judgement

There have been calls from a large section of the media in Ghana for the country’s political parties to ensure that peace and stability in Ghana is maintained. But the days leading up to, and immediately following the 29th August, 2013,    pronouncement of   judgement,    on  the December 2012 presidential election petition,  by the nine Supreme Court judges who heard the matter,  will also test the maturity and  sense of patriotism   of the Ghanaian media.


There are those who say that the media ought to direct their call to politicians to help maintain peace and stability in Ghana to themselves too.


In the view of those who say so, truly patriotic journalists - in what is still a developing nation in which there is a great deal of poverty and suffering - must put aside their personal political preferences, at this critical period in our nation's history:  as Ghana faces an existential moment,   on which hinges the very future of our country.


At such crucial moments, the role of the Ghanaian media is to protect the national interest - which is whatever promotes the welfare of the vast majority of ordinary people in Ghana: as opposed to what will redound to the benefit of a powerful and well-connected few.


That is why when the Supreme Court delivers   its verdict   on 29th August, 2013, the media in Ghana must insist and demand that all parties involved in the matter,  accept the court's decision.


Above all, during the immediate aftermath of the day judgment is pronounced, journalists in Ghana must be guided by the national interest - instead of pandering to political parties and politicians.


They must use their fourth-arm-of-government position in the Ghanaian polity, which casts them in the role of society's watchdog, to save Ghana from the clutches of those who might want to tip it over the precipice.


If the present generation of journalists in Ghana wants to leave a good legacy behind, then at all costs the Ghanaian media must help protect the nation's stability, when the Supreme Court finally delivers its judgment on the December 2012 presidential election.  A word to the wise...


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