The leadership of Parliament is seeking to thrash out its problems with the media fraternity in a crunch meeting scheduled for this morning between the two parties.
Speaker of the House Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye’s threats to withdraw the accreditation for the press for failing to cover a debate in the House on Tuesday has sparked a chorus of condemnation from members of the media.
The media says the head of the legislative Chamber wants to gag the parliamentary press corps following his threats.
But the public affairs directorate of the House has rejected the accusation in a statement saying : “Parliament has noted media reports purporting that the Speaker of Parliament is seeking to gag the media. The Office would like to put on record that at no time either in his capacity as Speaker or in his personal capacity has Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye sought to prevent the media from doing its work. Parliament recognises the critical role of the media and the Speaker made reference to the same when he spoke about the high regard with which he holds the media’s work.
“Both leaders referred to the need for a dutiful media and the need for the media to remain in the Chamber while the House is still in session. Parliament, the Speaker, leaders and the entire Membership of the House remain committed to the ideals of a free media and freedom of speech as provided for in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution and will not do anything to jeopardise this”.
Speaking further on the matter on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM, the Head of the Public Affairs Directorate of the House, Madam Kate Addo said the House will find a middle-ground on the matter with the Press in the meeting billed for today.
“I’ll urge for calm. This morning we have a meeting with the media. Lets have that meeting and then we’ll all find a common ground and then move from there,” she told sit-in host Akwasi Nsiah.
