Let's reject Criminal Libel Law forever

It is generally acknowledged that the threat to media freedom may come from the recklessness of certain practitioners.

The repeal of the Criminal and Seditious Libel laws has opened new frontiers to the media landscape, resulting in people not looking behind their shoulders to determine whether ‘Big Brother’ is watching.

Today, free speech has been decriminalised in our country and the state cannot commence criminal proceedings on behalf of anyone perceived to be a public official because his reputation has been damaged by a media practitioner.

At best that person, whether a politician, a top government official or an ordinary person, has other options available to him or her, including civil action.

The Daily Graphic must make it clear here that the expanded media frontiers are not a licence for media practitioners, social commentators and what has become generally referred to as ‘communication teams’ of political parties to destabilise society.

Freedom of the media is extolled as one of the bulwarks of liberty, but it does not bestow on the media the right to ruin reputations, break confidence or pervert the course of justice.

It is for this reason that, for our conversation today, we think we must make reference to the eminent British jurist, Lord Denning, who said, among other things, that freedom of the press means “there should be no censorship. No restraint should be placed on the press as to what they should publish. Not by a licensing system. Not by Executive direction. Not by court injunction”.

The Daily Graphic reminds media practitioners and all those who avail themselves of the media to remember that if their actions injure reputations, they can be dealt with by the court.

The Daily Graphic has always explained that in our Constitution there is no absolute freedom of the press but there are regulations of the land that are legitimately required to guide media practice.

We understand the frustrations of the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, “to call for a review of the laws governing the establishment of the NMC to enable the commission to serve as an alternative dispute resolution and conciliatory platform”.

“These laws should be amended and given the needed teeth to bite, otherwise reckless reportage may destroy our peaceful nation anytime soon,” he said.

The media have a crucial role to play in nation-building, especially by holding the government accountable to the people.

That is why it is very crucial for practitioners to practise their profession with a sense of responsibility, instead of the recklessness exhibited by certain journalists.

The cure for media irresponsibility and the call for a clampdown on media freedom is in the resolve by all media practitioners to exercise self-regulation.

Any suggestion for the re-introduction of the Criminal Libel Law may not hold the key to controlling media excesses, as it will roll back the gains made in expanding media frontiers and democratic governance.

The Daily Graphic thinks the NMC is clothed with enough powers to take all appropriate measures to ensure the establishment and maintenance of the highest journalistic standards in the media.

We need media responsibility founded on temperate language and respect for the journalism ethics to save the country from possible catastrophe, not the re-introduction of the Criminal Libel Law.