Don’t add to political tension. CDS admonishes media
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson Oje, has expressed concern over the rising political temperature in the country in the run-up to the November 7, 2016 elections.
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“It is easy to feel the political temperature gradually rising. The various incidents connected to the limited voters registration are enough attestation to this fact,” he said.
Speaking during a media interaction organised by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in Accra yesterday, Air Vice Marshal Oje urged the media not to “add fuel to the political environment by the nature of your reportage”.
The media interaction, which enabled representatives from various media houses to interact with the top hierarchy of the GAF was used to present the plans of the security services to ensure peaceful elections.
Air Vice Marshal Oje said Ghana was noted for conducting peaceful elections “even when the winning margins are very small. This is not the time to give up our title”.
All stakeholders, he said, must, therefore, collectively resolve to do everything within their power to ensure peaceful elections.
“Let all our actions be geared towards the execution of yet another peaceful election to the admiration of the whole continent and the world at large.
“No matter our political persuasions, we are one country and we float or sink together. So let us close ranks and make the whole world proud of us once again,” he admonished.
Caution
Air Vice Marshal Oje, however, cautioned anyone who sought to use the upcoming elections as an opportunity to undermine the peace, stability and integrity of Ghana that the security services would deal with him or her.
“We cannot sit by and allow anyone to disrupt the peace that we have all toiled for over the years. We will use every means available at our disposal to safeguard the peace of this country,” he warned.
Media
Recognising the power of the media, Air Vice Marshal Oje said the media had the ability to make or unmake nations.
“Your reportage in the run-up to the elections is, therefore, a very important determinant towards the conduct of peaceful elections,” he said.
He urged the media to try and confirm their facts before publishing stories and also bear in mind the impact of biased reportage.
“Please do not hesitate to contact us to clarify any information that will affect the safety and security of this country. You may cause irreparable damage, especially in a charged election atmosphere,” he advised.
The GAF and their allied security agencies, he said, would continue to play a neutral and non-partisan role in support of the upcoming elections.
He, therefore, called on the media to collaborate with the security services to ensure peaceful elections in order to safeguard the peace and stability of the country.
“This is our country; we have nowhere else to go to. Let me assure you that the GAF and other security agencies are ready to hold the country together at all cost. This is what we are trained for and paid for,” he stated.
IGP
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, who also addressed the media, noted that the cooperation between the GAF, the Police Service and the other security services was paramount in promoting peace in the country.
Reiterating the Chief of the Defence Staff’s statement, he said “the police and their sister security agencies shall discharge their mandate professionally. We shall remain neutral and impartial in the performance of our duties”, he said.
On the part of the police, he said, a number of measures had been put in place to ensure peaceful elections. This includes the setting up of the National Election Security Taskforce and the mapping out of all the hot spots and flashpoints.
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He explained that a three-tier deployment plan of having police personnel at all polling stations, patrol team on the ground and military personnel on standby would be executed to ensure peaceful elections.
Open Forum
During an open forum, journalists raised concerns over access to information from the Ghana Armed Forces and bureaucracy.
The issue of delays in the release of findings of investigations involving military personnel brutalising civilians was also raised but the media was given an assurance that the GAF would ensure the free flow of information in future.
GJA
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, in a remark said the military-media interaction was an opportunity to leverage the power of the pen and the sword to ensure social cohesion.
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He urged the media to be circumspect and to tone down on conflict-prone issues.