President of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists, Lloyd Evans, has said the Inspector General of Police, John Kudalor’s consideration of a social media ban on Election Day to curtail abuses that could lead to violence, is reasonable if it is the surest way to safeguard the nation’s stability.
The IGP has been heavily criticized for his proposal, with a cross section of the public is threatening a mass protest if the proposal is carried through.
But Lloyd Evans thinks the abuse of social media in the country warrants the IGP’s proposal if need be.
[contextly_sidebar id=”tkw6LUm77akCZCa9aS1UvuEpYw6AvG8c”]He spoke to Citi News on the side-lines of a public forum organized by the Public Interest and Accountability Forum (PIAC) on the management of Ghana’s oil revenue.
“I don’t subscribe to it and I don’t think that will be the solution, but if it comes to the crunch and that is the only thing that can save this country why not, why not as in banning it for that period.”
“In real sense I don’t subscribe to it; but they are there and they know the security implications and so if they think that how things are going in this country, we have to take that step, I don’t have any objection and we will not die if for two days if social media is off.”
He insisted that, there will be nothing wrong banning the social media for two days to curtail any mayhem on the day of the polls this year.
This, according to him, could promote national cohesion and also deepen the country’s peace and stability.
“Even the social media we are misusing it and it is very unfortunate and so if for a day or two that social media will go silent and that will bring peace and tranquillity in this country I will go for it.”
Another Veteran Journalist, Rayborn Bulley, called for media censorship as the nation gears up for the 2016 polls.
“Sometimes the agenda for setting up a radio station is to rubble rouse and sometimes it is to foster national unity. Every story must have a tendency of fostering national unity, unfortunately that is not the situation now.”
He decried media polarization on political grounds saying, “The country has become so polarized to the point that even journalists are polarized and it is unfortunate.”
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana