The attention of the Board of Media General Ghana (Ltd) has been drawn to a letter from the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC) which is dated 28th November 2023 to the Advertisers Association of Ghana, (AAG), in which the NMC Executive Secretary has taken a rather unprecedented step to notify them that any further steps that they are taking to advertise on OnuaTV and Onua FM are done at their own risk.
The Board of Media General says it takes a serious view of this matter.
This illegal action follows other illegal steps taken by the NMC which the media conglomerate had responded to earlier.
A letter signed by Board Chairman of Media General, Kojo Yankah said “We addressed a copy of our letter dated 27th November 2023 to you and have attached another copy to this letter for ease of reference. As you may be aware, the Executive Secretary wrote to the Chairman of Media General on 14th November 2023 complaining of a broadcast carried simultaneously on Onua TV and Onua FM.
“In the same letter and without giving the two channels an opportunity to be heard as required by natural justice, the Constitution and the NMC’s own establishment law, he imposed sanctions on them. The Onua stations responded, drawing attention to the need to be given a hearing as required by the law. The Executive Secretary, in apparent anger, refused to give them a hearing and rather threatened them with a final warning. He went further, in disparaging terms, to describe the Media General Board as lacking the capacity to manage the organization.
“The Media General Board takes serious exception to the actions and posture of the Executive Secretary and would ask the NMC to take immediate steps to regularize all the missteps of the Executive Secretary in targeting Onua TV and Onua FM for purposes known to him. In fact, by refusing to go by the normal procedure of resolving such matters, we suspect that his real intention is to interfere with the editorial independence of all the stations in the Media General Group.
“This, we believe, is a major threat to the media in Ghana and must not be allowed to happen. The NMC was established by the Constitution to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media for mass communication and information’ and we will take all steps necessary to ensure that the NMC is not rather used to trample on media independence for political or any other purposes.”
The letter added “We once again ask the Commission to observe the proper process of resolving complaints by giving Onua TV and Onua FM a hearing at the appropriate forum to deal with the complaint if any. We would want to assure you that we are resolved to work with the NMC towards achieving the highest standards of journalism and media practice in the country.”