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Momodou
Denmark
11832 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Aug 2007 : 14:37:30
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Foroyaa Editorial:
The Press and Party Politics
The press can enhance democratic discourse. It can also promote mediocrity in political discourse. It depends on the topics they raise with political figures. Political parties are required by law to perform certain National duties if they are to be relevant. The leaders of such political parties should perform such duties.
Section 103 A of the Election Decree states that political parties may be established to
(a) participate in the shaping of /or political will of people
(b) disseminate information of political ideas and on political, economic and social programmes of national character; and
(c) sponsor candidates for public elections
Hence a relevant political party and leader must make relevant pronouncements that will help the people to shape their political will.
Such a party or leader should disseminate information of their political ideas and the social and economic programmes they believe could foster the liberty and prosperity of the people.
Serious political parties and leaders must prepare the ground to sponsor candidates during public elections, either on their own or through alliances.
Section 207 Subsection (3) of the Constitution states that "The press and other information media shall at all times be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of the Constitution and the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of the Gambia."
It is the objective of the Constitution to have mature and responsible political parties and leaders who will concentrate on explaining their political, economic and social programmes and analyse those of their opponents in order to help the people shape their political will.
Media houses who envisage their media practitioners to jump from one political leader to another to raise trivial comments they make regarding each other are promoters of political mediocrity. Such media practitioners must be seen to be undermining the democratic process.
The Gambian people should begin to see such media practitioners to be unprofessional in their conduct. Foroyaa wishes to advise all those who wish to be political leaders of this country to recognize the importance of the office of representation and adhere to a code of conduct in political discourse that will not bring the role of political leadership into disrepute. One has to read The Bite of The Point to know the intention of those who jump from one figure in the opposition to another without contacting any member of the ruling party to comment on matters that concerns them. This should be enough food for thought for the wise.
Source:Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 92/2007, 8 - 9 August 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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