BNI quizzes two radio commentators

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on July 3, 2016, questioned two radio communicators — Mr Alistair Tairo Nelson, 41, and Mr Godwin Ako Gunn, 39 — over comments they made on Montie FM, an Accra-based radio station, attacking justices of the Supreme Court.

Their arrest was premised on the fact that their comments were considered provocative, inflammatory, unacceptable and had the potential of creating security challenges.

According to a statement issued by the BNI, in arresting the communicators, it took into consideration the current volatile security situation in the country as the nation inched towards the 2016 elections.

Admission 

It said during the interrogation, the two suspects admitted making those statements and acknowledged that their remarks were regrettable and unfortunate.

It said further checks by the BNI had, however, established that the suspects were incapable of carrying out their pronouncements but did so in a show of needless bravado.

“Nevertheless, our investigations are ongoing and the suspects report themselves to the BNI three times a week,” it added.

It stated that the BNI observed that thus far several electronic and print media outlets had become notorious for their intemperate vituperations, personal attacks, outright insults, among other issues, adding that “this is a serious security concern that we will not allow to fester”.

Caution 

The BNI, as part of its constitutional mandate to safeguard Ghana’s political environment, cautioned all discussants to avoid intemperate and inflammatory language and innuendoes that had the tendency to create fear and panic and tended to cause breaches of the peace.

“The bureau notes that the rights of self-expression and media freedom are enshrined in our Constitution and several governmental and non-governmental institutions, such as the National Media Commission (NMC), the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other civil society organisations recognised by statute or otherwise, that have a primary responsibility to regulate the communication sector and avoid inflammatory commentary that has the potential to threaten the peace and stability of the country,” it said.

Assurance

The statement assured the Judiciary, the people of Ghana and all foreigners within the jurisdiction that the BNI would continue to work with all security agencies to ensure their safety at all times.

It also advised media house owners, show hosts, panellists and other radio communicators to conduct all discussions with decorum, tolerance and respect for the constitutional rights of others.

“This will ensure peace before, during and after the upcoming elections. We will not hesitate to invoke the full sanctions of the law against any media house which ignores this warning,” it concluded.