By Isaac Ato MENSAH<\/p>\n
Winneba \u2013 1 July, 2019<\/p>\n
The Communication Educators Association of Ghana (CEAG) met in Winneba on 27 and 28 June, 2019, for the first time.<\/p>\n
It was to rope in full members, associate members, student members, institutional members and corporate members, and to adopt its draft constitution.<\/p>\n
Importantly, the draft constitution which was discussed at the business meeting on 27 June had an extensive procedure on DISMISSAL of members.<\/p>\n
When I told a key convener during the break that the University of Education Winneba (UEW), which was hosting the event, did not have such detailed procedures in its statutes available online, he responded: “That is strange”.<\/p>\n
Even the definition of CEAG member came up for debate. When everyone else had voted to adopt some proposals with only one dissenting vote, the motion was carried. During a later debate, when the participant who had dissented took the chance to convince participants on his perspective; he received a rapturous applause.<\/p>\n
The effect was that participants had to undo most of what they had done and instead consider two proposed resolutions on the draft constitution so that it could be adopted at a later date.<\/p>\n
It was a joy to experience democracy in a collegial atmosphere.<\/p>\n
The formal event in the afternoon of 27 June broadcast live by Windy Bay radio of UEW, was addressed by Rev. Fr. Prof Anthony Afful-Broni, the UEW Vice Chancellor.<\/p>\n
In his brief address he stated among other things that the association’s work will support \u201cOur government\u2019s policy\u201d for free senior high school, which raised a few eyebrows.<\/p>\n
But perhaps the subsequent sentences should worry all of us: \u201cThe association should lobby and ensure media men [and women] are well taken care of so that those who are rich don\u2019t hijack them to do their bidding. I sincerely mean it. I\u2019m pleading\u201d.<\/p>\n
Little did we at writersghana.com know that three editors of modernghana.com, as of the time he was speaking that afternoon, had been arrested by \u201cNational Security\u201d \u2013 that amorphous creature often used to terrorise the media and all of us.<\/p>\n
History is rife with examples where National Security has been used as justification to torment and intimidate outspoken formal and informal critics of the status quo; and this is not limited to Ghana.<\/p>\n
What then is the role of the Ghana Police Service? Is it part of the security apparatus? What falls within and outside its jurisdiction?<\/p>\n
\u201cOur government\u201d must do things properly.<\/p>\n
As my mentor will never tire of saying: \u201cYou can never do the right thing at the wrong time\u201d.<\/p>\n
That amorphous creature called National Security which usually revolves round a few individuals based on the party in power should learn that there is something to be said for integrity.<\/p>\n
Need we remind ourselves yet again that integrity is the bedrock of all well ordered and progressive societies – societies that develop largely through freedom and justice?<\/p>\n
We need to focus on principles and not personalities. That way we do not look foolish when the “Big Men” are shown to have feet of clay.<\/p>\n
And now if we have also crossed the line, above and beyond Prof Augustine Nwagbara and modernghana.com, we are ready to be arrested and or intimidated….but only by Small Men.<\/p>\n
Feedback; ato@writersghana.com; www.writersghana.com; LinkedIn, Isaac Ato Mensah; Instagram, @atomenswriters; Twitter, @Atomens; Facebook, Isaac Ato Mensah; Telegram, Isaac Ato Mensah; Quora, Isaac Ato Mensah. WhatsApp (233) 020 022 0353.<\/p>\n
Writers and Shakespeares Ghana Limited exist to be a moral and intellectual guide to the best practice of PR and integrated communications around the world, beginning with Ghana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"