IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND INFORMATION ABSOLUTE IN GHANA

Right is a justified claim or entitlement, or the freedom to do something
• You’re within your rights to complain.
• a declaration of the rights of civilized people

Freedom, according to the Black Law Dictionary, defines freedom as 0the power of the will to follow the dictates if it’s unrestricted choice and to direct the individual without restraint, coercion or control from other persons. Another connotation of freedom is Liberty.

Liberty has two sides. The positive concept connotes a generalized body of rights, such as the right to economic opportunity and education, and the negative side denotes the necessary restraint on all which is needed to promote the greatest possible amount of liberty for each. It is also noticed by government as restraint in the positive sense of restraint that the state in the exercise of its police powers promotes the freedom for all.

Speech is a learned system of communication requiring the coordinated use of voice, articulation, and language skills, it is also the right to offer words or sound and directed at other persons or the whole and regardless of the medium used. This may include opinion or facts. In law, it is uncontrolled by censorship or restrictions of government.

Freedom of speech and expression is the legal expression which includes all the freedoms which is normally spelt out in a document. Example: A constitution, an Act of parliament, common Law of equity.

Freedom of expression, despite its primacy, can never be absolute. In times of war or similar crisis, some publication may threaten even the survival of the nation. Freedom of speech goes with responsibility. For example in Ghana recently, when in a media house, a panelist made a comment about a past head of state, responsible for causing a fire outbreak in his apartment. Immediately, the gentleman was asked to redraw the statement and was held responsible for such as expression. In this case though he had the right to express himself, he had no prove for whether or not the pas head of state really knew about the cause of the fire.
Defamatory publication may unfairly invade the interest in reputation. Impugning the integrity of a court by publishing evidence in advance of trial may endanger the administration of justice. Obscenity may conflict with the interest in public morality.
The position of the law of freedom of expression and speech today can be recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in the International Human Rights Law in the International covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Today, the law of freedom of expression and speech is seen as a multi-faceted right that includes not only the right to express, or disseminate information and ideas but also the right to seek information, the right to receive information and ideas and the right to impart information.

In Ghana, we ask whether right are absolute. Chapter five of the constitution clearly shows that rights are not absolute in Ghana. Under the constitution, rights are limited by the following: community or public interest, treatment quarantine needs, prevention of crime, judicial intervention, economic considerations, national security, public safety, defense, public order, safety, public morality or public health, duties of a citizen defense of the constitution, defamation (libel and slander).
The rights of a journalist includes: freedom of thought and conscience, the right to criticize, to expose wrong-doing by public officials and generally to act as public watchdogs, the right to adequate remuneration, leisure and social security, the right to refuse to give evidence and to protect the sources of his information subjects of course to appropriate safeguards to take account of public interest requirements, the right to serve as gatekeepers.
In as much as we have the rights of a journalist, he also has duties in reference to Article 41, which says:
• to promote the prestige and good name of Ghana and respect the symbols of the nation.
• To uphold and defend this constitution and the law
• To foster national unity and live in harmony with others.
• To work conscientiously in his lawfully chosen occupation.
• To protect and preserve public property and expose and combat misuse and waste of public funds and property.
The protection of rights is generally found in Clause 5 of Article 33 of the constitution that is the protection of rights generally by the courts in the nature of certiorari, habeas corpus, mandamus prohibition, quo warranto.
In conclusion, freedom of speech is not absolute in Ghana. It is granted by the constitution but subject to certain limitations.

Twenty Amazing Wonderful Portraits by Kwaku David - Blog | Kwaku David Photography

Twenty Amazing Wonderful Portraits by Kwaku David - Blog | Kwaku David Photography

A FATHER’S BEATITUDES

On a visit to a Lawyer friend's Chamber one day, i was reading though a book titled "Pride and Prejudice", 

got to the middle of the book then i came a cross a sheet of paper. these were what was on that paper: 

 

Blessed is the father who receives the heavenly father as the Lord of his life.

Blessed is the father who will lay down his life for his wife and children

Blessed is the father who offers to wash the dishes and tend to the baby so mother can have a break even after his long day at work.

Blessed is the father who can attentively and patiently listen when he gets home to crying children and an exhausted and frustrating wife. Then be able with a smile, to offer comforting and soothing words, regardless of his feelings and frustrations.

 

Blessed is the father who takes the time to read the Bible to his Heavenly father as their Lord

Blessed is the father who  disciplines his children with love, making sure his life is in loving example of his heavenly father.

Blessed is the father who can patiently listen to his teenagers when they are telling him that he is too old and doesn’t understand the world of today.

Blessed is the father who spends late nights and lonely hours in intercessory prayer for his wife and family so he will be able to allow his Heavenly fathers love, patience, long-suffering, meekness, temperance, forbearance, and forgiveness. To be seen and expressed in demanding the opportune moments.

Photo Credit: Kwaku David

Blessed is the father who teaches and leads his family into becoming a family of God.

#FGHSHOP 2013 IN PICTURES.................A weekend of Fashion, Lifestyle and Gadgets.

@cadabie and Myself

Kwaku Zee et Moi

Mr. Ahiable and Moi

Akosua and Alexander

Aku and Zee

Photo Credits
Emmanuel Bobbie
Kwaku Zee
Alexander Kwaku Adu-Lartey
WetWater Promotions
Team1000 words
Amfo Connoly Photography
FashionistaGh Team

My experience at the Blogcamp Ghana 2013 ( #BlogCamp13)

“Content is King” was the theme for this year’s BlogCamp Ghana 2013. It was held at the Kofi Annan centre of ICT - some meters away from the Parliament house of Ghana. This program was organized to help bloggers improve on their blogging and to encourage others who haven’t started blogging yet to do so. It is also a platform where bloggers, vloggers, tweeps and facebookers will be officially recognized.  I was indeed overwhelmed by the number of people who participated. Actually, this was my first time to be at such an event. I went through a registration process that took me less than five minutes  (my data was verified since I registered online and picked up my tag that had my name and my twitter handle on it). Afterwards I went to have a photoshoot with some friends. (Official photographer of the event was Nii Odzenma photography) afterwards, I tried to make some few friends who were also bloggers and met old friends I haven’t been in touch with for a long time. I must say the organizers of the event did tremendously well and a big Thank you to the sponsors who supported the event and gave out some goodies to participants for being interactive during sessions.

The theme for the event was explained further by @Kajsa (am using the twitter handles of the speakers because I have forgotten their names) who made us understand why they chose such a theme.

Next was @antirhythm; who took us through Social Media and the Law. He went further to talk about plagiarism, how to come up with good content for your blog, crediting references on your blog, and having a copyright of your original content. His speech was very inciting.

Next to speak was @MacJordan who dedicated his presentation to the late Chinua Achebe; one of his Role model and shared a quote of his. He shared his experience going around some parts of the world and talking about whether the internet should be free or not. I indeed enjoyed his presentation because he showed a video about how some countries are highly deficient with the use of the internet.

Next was an open discussion about how to increase content in a free world. There were quite a number of suggestions which included being able to be consistent on your blog because your audience will always want to find out your latest. Another was to talk with friends if you have an idea about anything so that you can have various angles to that particular idea. We then had some shoutout from some sponsors who were delighted to be a part of the event. Then Lunch came…..i was quite hungry and what overwhelmed me was the fact that we actually didn’t pay anything for the program but we had some good lunch and drinks from blueskies…that was soo cool. Thank u guys…

                                            Myself and Seyram 

After lunch we had to break-out into sessions to learn on different topics. I joined the Social Media for Organisations class. I joined this class because I wanted to help my organization to interact with its publics through social media, since social media enables speed information. Another important thing to consider for an organization was to align your social media plans to the communication plan of your company. I was really educated on this topic, thanks to the guys who shared their experiences with their organizations. A social media strategist and MacJordan took us through this session. They also advised on the use of newsletters for organizations using some softwares – mailchimp, mailmimi and surveymonkey – and  interacting with your publics through online forums and instant messaging. (I had a goodie from Blackberry for asking a question….lol)

                                       MacJordan, Myself and Seyram

The next class I joined was the “Social Media Pays” class. In this class, we shared experiences about how we can make money from blogging or using social media to make money for a living. This class wasn’t as interesting as I wanted but I learnt a lot. (at a point I had wanted to join some other class)

After the break-out sessions we gathered at the auditorium to continue with the program. Nana Asaase gave us some poetry from his collection followed by rhymes Sony(I hope I got the name right). We then had a little speech from the US Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Gene A. Cretz, who felt honoured to be a part of the event and advised us to make good use of the internet anytime we had access to it.

There came the time we were waiting for, I could feel the heartbeat of some of the nominees.  I will want to congratulate all the award winners and the nominees…..you guys are fantastic!

The winners were:

Best technology Blog - techy-africa.com

Best Business and Commerce Blog - estockanalysisblog.com

Best Citizen Journalism Blog - circumspecte.com

Best Creative, Literary Short Stories, Poetry Blog - ganyobinaa.com

Best Showbiz and Entertainment Blog – ameyawdebrah.com

Best lifestyle Blog - ganyobinaa.com

Best Activist blog - adventuresfrom.com

Best Photo Blog - africaphotographer.blogspot.com

Best Organisational Blog - accradotalttours.wordpress.com

Best Blog - adventuresfrom.com

Personality with best social Media Presence - MutomboPercy the Poet (@MutomboDaPoet)

Best Original Content - poetrysoundbites.blogspot.co.uk

Check out their prizes here http://www.blogcampghana.com/social-media-awards/prizes/