Ghana has launched new guidelines for religious broadcasts as it moves to deal with abuses within the broadcasting sector.
The country’s National Media Commission (NMC) made the guidelines public on Thursday.
According to state media Ghanaian Times the new laws are meant to “address the proliferation of religious excesses on the Ghanaian media landscape.”
Several religious groupings secure airtime on radio and television to preach their messages. In some instances citizens are abused by these religious preachers.
Ghana hopes to bring sanity into the broadcast of religious activities with the new guidelines.
The new document provides that all religious broadcasts promote cultural, moral and ethical values. Broadcasts will also have to be respectful for personal freedoms, rights, obligations and privacy.
“Religious broadcasts should not involve any abuse, exploitation, intimidation and manipulation of people, especially the vulnerable; and should reflect respect for fundamental human dignity,” the new guidelines stated.
It also stated that “religious broadcast should protect children and vulnerable people, promote and defend public interest, national identity and cohesion.”
Media houses in Ghana are now expected to adopt the document to guide all religious broadcasts.
The Chairman of Ghana’s Media Commission, Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng warned that “media owners and operators of the broadcast stations will be held accountable for breaches of these guidelines.”
Source: Africafeeds.com
