“You’re free to do whatever you want, but you
should always take responsibility for the consequences of your choices in life”
– Unknown.
I’m neither sick nor tired. Yet I’m sick and tired
of the noise coming from the camp of the eagle-headed Umbrella. I’m sure same
goes for many of my compatriots because it is a discordant noise.
Our ears have been inundated with so much
noise from members of the Zu-za family for the past two weeks or so. Their cry
is that two radio stations sympathetic to their cause have been shut down by
the National Communications Authority (NCA). They do not deny infringing on the
relevant regulations, yet they shamelessly continue to scream ‘political
witch-hunt’.
Political witch-hunt? Well, as I’ve said on
many occasions in this very column, if you are a political witch or wizard,
then be sure that you will be politically witch-hunted. For witches and wizards
of any kind are not creatures to be toyed with or treated with kids’ gloves.
Zu-za is not alone in the noise-making venture. Many
so-called political neutrals have joined in the noise-making spree. One lawyer
was heard screaming that one of the closed radio stations was a ‘colossus’ on
the media landscape so the NCA shouldn’t have shut it down. So I ask: is it a
colossus so it must be allowed to break the country’s law with impunity? Warped
logic, indeed!
Is it not ironic that a lawyer who is
supposed to uphold the country’s laws will speak like that? It is even more ironic
to see Members of Parliament, who pass the laws we use in governing various
aspects of our lives, get upset when the same laws are applied the same way
they said we should apply them.
In effect, what the so-called media freedom
agitators are telling us is that one can just go and buy machines, mount them
and start broadcasting. In their confused minds, media freedom should be
equated to jungle life, where laws and regulations do not apply. Can you
imagine the chaos if all radio stations in Ghana decide that they won’t comply
with any regulations in the name of guaranteed media freedom?
Time and again, you hear them arguing that the
closure of the two radio stations flouts Article 165 of the 1992 Constitution,
which guarantees ‘freedom of the press’. But nowhere in the said Article does
it guarantee freedom to shirk one’s responsibility in adhering to all
regulations.
I do agree that some people may wonder if there are
hidden political hands directing the NCA. But the truth of the matter is that
the two pro Zu-za radio stations did shirk their responsibility of ensuring all
their documentation was in order. So it is a futile effort to turn round to
accuse others of their own irresponsible acts.
Certainly, the country will be heading into
eternal abyss if we allow a radio station’s political affiliation to determine
how the NCA deals with it. Whether colossus or not, all media houses must be
treated equally to promote equity and safeguard the security of the state.
This country cannot be allowed to be destroyed on
the altar of politics. The laws are written in black and white for all to see.
We cannot allow media houses to flagrantly disregard the law only to ride on
the back of their political masters and start crying wolf, citing the choking
of media freedom as though freedom exists in the vacuum.
We cannot and should
not condone any irresponsible media. The fact that you are a media house does
not place you above any laws. It is a shame to neglect your responsibilities
and then think you have the right to call others to order.
As for those planning to demonstrate in support of
the irresponsible media houses, they can do so because it is their right. But
my unsolicited counsel to them is to spare us the discordant noise and advise
their darling radio stations to just do the right thing. For no amount of
demonstrations can right the wrongs of the two erring radio stations.
I will be surprised if they heed my wise
counsel because I know they’ve been infected with the dead-goat syndrome.
See you next week for another interesting
konkonsa, Deo volente!
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