The Press Foundation, has drawn the attention of the Information Minister,Mustapha Hamid to comments made by the Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Abraham Otabil that, “All you need is give Kumasi-based journalists GH¢20 or GH¢30 …. They will become so happy, so indebted to air or publish your story”.
According to the TPF in a statement issued by its Executive Director Listowell Yesu Bukarson, it revealed that his unfortunate comments were made at the Manhyia Palace last Friday, when as part of his working tour of the Ashanti Region, the sector Minister, Hon. John Peter Amewu called on the King of Asante, Otumfou Osei Tutu Ababio.
Mr. Otabil had travelled to the Region with some journalists from Accra, which practice is unfair to media practioners in the Region. Aside that, he selected those his “media friends” ahead of others, especially the media in the Region to cover the call on the Asantehene, much to the chagrin of other journalists who had been touring galamsey areas with the Minister days earlier.
When justifiably upset journalists questioned his selective attitude against them, he made those denigrating and unsavory comments against them.
“The Press Foundation, takes exception to those unmannered and unprofessional comments because, we see those comments as a form of attack on the integrity of not on journalists in the Ashanti Region but on the practice journalism in general in this country.
The Press foundation would like to call on the Informational Ministry, to as a matter of urgency, reprimand, chastise and caution Mr. Otabil accordingly”
It demanded an unqualified apology from him without delay.
“If this apology request is not heeded, journalists in the region will advice themselves in tandem with coverage of activities of the Ministry. The fight against galamsey is a collective national responsibility, and so rather than scatter a core stakeholder like the media in this very important discourse, we need to embrace them, regardless of any mishap. We believe journalism is not a crime, and so no journalist must be treated like a criminal in the line of duty with such abusive language”, it added.
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