2016 polls: We won’t tolerate recklessness on radio – BNI

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has served notice it will not allow personal attacks, vituperations and intemperate language on radio and in the media space as Ghana heads towards elections in November.

In a statement on their invitation of the two radio panelists who threatened judges on Accra-based Montie FM, the security agency called on the Ghana Journalists Association and other civil society groups to help ensure decorum in the media.

“..The BNI further observes that thus far, several electronic and print media outlets have become notorious for their intemperate vituperations, personal attacks, and outright insults, among others.

“This is a serious security concern that we will not allow festering,” portions of the statement said.

The statement also confirmed that the BNI has indeed invited and interrogated the two over their comments.

Below are details of the statement

The Bureau of National Investigation [BNI] on 3rd July 2016 questioned two [2] radio communicators, namely Alistair Tairo Nelson, forty-one [41] and Godwin Ako Gunn, thirty-nine [39] on comments they aired on MONTIE FM, an Accra-based radio station, attacking Justices of the Supreme Court.

The arrest was premised on the fact that their comments were considered provocative, inflammatory, and unacceptable and had the potential of creating security challenges. In arresting the two [2], the BNI took into consideration the current volatile security situation in the country as we inch towards the 2016 elections.

At the interrogation, the two [2] suspects admitted making those statements and acknowledged that their remarks were regrettable and unfortunate.

Further checks by the BNI have 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 are reporting to the BNI three times a week.

The BNI further observes that thus far, several electronic and print media outlets have become notorious for their intemperate vituperations, personal attacks, and outright insults, among others.

This is a serious security concern that we will not allow festering.

As part of our constitutional mandate to safeguard Ghana’s political the environment for all Ghanaians, we advise all discussants to avoid intemperate and inflammatory language and innuendoes that have the tendency to create fear and panic and that tend 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 not- governmental institutions such as the National Media Commission (NMC), the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other Civil Society Organizations, recognized by statute or otherwise, 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.

The Bureau assures the judiciary, the good people of Ghana and all foreigners within the jurisdiction that we shall continue to work with all the other State Security Agencies to ensure their safety at all times.

We also advise media house owners, show hosts, panelists, 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 … END

Issued From: BNI HQ, ACCRA