SECTOR 4 To this end the NMC has developed “guidelines” for print media and broadcasting houses and established a Complaints Committee. The NMC is perceived to be more effective in dealing with the conduct of state-owned media houses. In regard to private media – both print and broadcasting – the NMC is seen as a “toothless dog”. Practitioners in these media have been summoned before the Complaints Committee for what was considered improper conduct or asked to retract a story with apologies. The defendants, however, generally refer to article 173 of the constitution, which prohibits the NMC from exercising “any control or direction over the professional functions” of media practitioners. When the new government came into power in 2009, it attempted to change the constitution in order to bring media policy and regulation under the authority of the minister of information and introduce statutory sanctions against media houses. However, it faced strong resistance from the NMC and media associations and the bid was “shot down”. The general assessment is that the self-regulatory mechanisms – with all their flaws – are working more efficiently than the statutory NMC because they serve as “courts of honour” and their “name-and-shame” sanctions seem to be the strongest weapon against unethical practices. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.9 (2008: 2.9; 2006: 2.8) 4.2 The standard of reporting follows the basic principles of accuracy and fairness. While the major print media try to follow the principles of accuracy and fairness, the standard of radio journalism is currently of special concern to observers of the media scene in Ghana. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2011 47