I daresay that any attempt by any politician, hiding behind the police - Alban Bagbin

 I daresay that any attempt by any politician, hiding behind the police institution, to act as the standard bearer of ethical and professional journalism, or the regulator of journalism practice, is not only a pretender but also megalomaniac. 

The police cannot assume responsibility for responsible media practice in Ghana by scanning newspapers and news portals and arresting journalists for errors and misrepresentations. 

Those who are so offended by such write-ups know what recourse they have. I am not for a moment holding brief for irresponsible and unprofessional conduct of journalists. 

I am simply saying that there is a cure for that in our current legal regime. The increasing tendency on the part of the police to arrest journalists for what they describe as mistakes is old school, anachronistic and is sending this country back into the dark ages of media persecution. As Mr. Booker T. Washington said “don’t find fault. Find a remedy.”

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Except of speech from my address today at the launch of the Parliamentary Press Centre.