The former president John Kufuor has condemned the media for opening itself up to be used by politicians to champion their parochial interest in the name of free speech.
At least three individuals including the executive director of ASEPA Mensah Thompson and governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono regional chairman Kwame Baffoe (popularly known as Abronye DC), are currently being tried in court over statements they made in the media that the police say amount to false publications.
Speaking in an interview with Asaase News, Kufuor said the media has been largely irresponsible in executing their gatekeeping role leading to abuse of free speech in the country.
“Unfortunately, these days, especially in the times of social media, media turns to be too sensational,” the former president said.
“The sort of language one hears on the airwaves will give the impression the media are not yet up to appreciate their civic responsibilities, the social role to safeguard the constitution and uphold the transformational processes to better the lot of the citizenry at large,” Kufuor added.
Condemning coup
On the series of coups being witnessed in Africa, Kufuor said the experiences of military takeovers cannot be recommended for any generation to embrace.
Kufuor has, therefore, advised against any attempt to stage a coup in the country or the sub-region.
He said, “coup is not an experience I will recommend for any generation.”
Kufuor said, “I wouldn’t advise anybody to hail a coup d’état. It comes from faceless people you don’t know, who haven’t given anything to keep for you or to manage for you, and they may not even be competent enough to do anything. And if they come, they use an opportunity and come to impose themselves on you and destroy your life. Is this what anybody should want?” he quizzed.
He said coups thrive when some governments tend to lapse and there is misgovernance one way or the other.
Kufuor also said when government’s do not take care of their security arrangements or they don’t show appreciation of the geo-politics of the neighbourhood then a coup might happen.
“Sanctions don’t bite”
He said sanctions of regional bodies like Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU) on coup-makers does not bite and, therefore, are not deterrent enough.
“Coups makers think your sanctions will not bite them economically or politically or socially, so, they just carry on in spite of the declaration of these regional groupings and, so, these associations or groupings must begin to think very seriously on how to give the constitutional provisions the bite so when they say don’t do it and you do it they can get you and so you know perhaps it is not profitable to try it,” he said.
In an advice to heads of state on the continent, Kufuor said, “try to live by your oath to the people because it is the underpinning of good governance.
“If you think the period is too short, use the constitutional means to convince the people to amend the constitution or reform the constitution to lengthen tenure a bit but please don’t play smart and on the eve when you should be stepping down, you say there’s a third term. You do that and you push people into feeling they too can take things into their own hands and do what they mustn’t do.”
Source: asaaseradio.com
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Undoubtedly the most successful president in Ghana's fourth republic. The man Kufuor has clearly demonstrated that old age is wisdom. He listens a lot and takes his time before addressing any issue. Pro poor initiatives during his presidency are still there for all to see. National health insurance, school feeding programme for basic schools, metro mass transport services, micro and small loans centre( MASLOC), national youth employment programme (NYEP), Capitation grant for basic schools, free maternity care for all pregnant women, built two new stadia in Tamale and Takoradi which became tourists attractions during the early days of their completion, Kufuor secured the millennium challenge account with the construction of the N1 highway in Accra, built a brand new office for the presidency, i.e. Jubilee house thus moving the seat of government from a colonial structure i.e. The osu castle, discovered crude oil in commercial quantities, started the dualization of Accra to Kumasi highway. With all these one wonders whether Akuffo Addo learnt anything from Kufuor as one of his cabinet ministers. It's the same elephant with the same big ears, under Akuffo Addo , at best the elephant with hear but won't listen. If Kufuor was behaving like this, the NPP would not have remained solid after his tenure for Akuffo Addo to ride on to power. John Mahama have lost all his grandfathers, i.e. Rawlings and Atta mills. Akuffo Addo's grandfather is still alive and strong i.e. JA Kufuor, instead of taking free consultancy services from him, he thinks he knows all thus the mess we are witnessing. NPP is in power but NDC is dictating the pace, how then will you break the 8 when your own party people are disappointed, frustrated, abandoned, neglected and forgotten. Go to the grassroots and check whether NPP is actually on the ground. Akuffo addo dea, dabi
Mr Kufuor is full of wisdom. Wise words indeed, Sir.
Any Ghanaian who blindly supports the NDC has obviously been misled into believing in the NDC. If you listen to certain NDC-MPS, you will understand where I'm coming from with this assertion that something intelligent hardly comes from the NDC. Then, what is the ideological position of the NDC with respect to engaging and ensuring the public their policies which they intend to implement when voted into power to improve their livelihood? Apart from fabricating lies for propagandistic purposes, the NDC essentially has nothing to offer. Certain academics, journalists, and outspoken Ghanaian personalities appear to have been paid to say what they say-to the extent that you doubt if they are abreast with the reality on the ground in Ghana. I'm not saying all is well in Ghana, but constructive criticism is equally progressive. It’s rather unfortunate that an intellectual would subdue his hard-earned intellect to cheap peanuts for self-seeking and incompetent politicians to chew. Threatening a coup for political power comes out of frustration in the political arena of the contest of ideas characterized by a principled ideological position. The NDC, hitherto, has not been able to present a tradition backed by a convincing political ideology. As social democrats, as they claim to be, is belied by their inability to implement social intervention programs. In contrast, the numerous social programs are implemented by the NPP-administrations, which tout their belief in a property-owning democracy. Indeed, the NPP was in charge of all of the country's flagship social programs, such as FSHS, NHIS, and school feeding programs. This massive deficiency in the NDC's social responsibility cannot be resolved with sheer propaganda, coup-threats, and baseless political polemics. Therefore, the NDC is better advised to change its strategy.