The National Media Commission (NMC) is demanding the prosecution and punishment of persons who invaded Accra based UTV to disrupt a live broadcast on October 9, 2023. Executive Secretary George Sarpong in an interview on Tv3 described the incident as despicable.
“I think it is despicable, we should all work towards avoiding and protecting the media from any such incident again. We are also going to work with the police to ensure that this particular incident is investigated thoroughly and the culprits punished accordingly” , Mr Sarpong stated.
The Police has so far arrested 16 persons in connection with the incident. Some of these individuals are believed to be closely affiliated with the governing New Patriotic Party.
Background
It will be recalled that the party had in a letter urged managers of the Television station to reform the United Showbiz show. It’s Director of Finance and Administration William Yamoah said the program had strayed from its objectives.
“ it is disheartening that this program has strayed from its intended path and ventured into the realm of a political and propaganda tool masquerading as an entertainment show”, Mr. Yamoah stated in the letter.
This did not sit well with Panellists on the show. Social Activist Kwame Asare Obeng popularly known as A-Plus read the letter on the live show after which he tore it in pieces.
“Nobody in this country can decide what we do on this show”. He fumed.
Latest attack
Host of the show Mzgee was on Saturday, October 9, opening the show when some young men entered the studios. They have been captured in viral videos shouting and demanding the whereabouts of A-plus. When the police arrived, one of them offered an explanation.
“He was able to sit here and tear our document. That is our property. We need him to render an unqualified apology. We want to be part of the show.”
NPP reaction
The Governing New Patriotic Party’s director of Communication Richard Ahiagbah immediately dashed to the studios to offer an apology. He explained the incident was not sanctioned by the party and expects the law to take its course.
“What happened is most unfortunate. We condemn it and apologize”.
Government
The Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah issued a statement on behalf of government condemning the incident and calling for media organizations to promote national cohesion.
“The Ministry wishes to encourage the media, especially broadcast media show hosts and panellists to do their utmost to help promote national cohesion…”
NDC speaks
The Opposition NDC is however not impressed. Its Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi blames the NPP for the attack. He alleges in a statement that the young men were led to the station by the Klottey Korle Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party under the orders of Ernest Owusu Bempah, a Deputy Director of Communications.
A-Plus had previously levelled a similar allegation naming Mr. Bempah as the architect of the attack. Mr. Bempah has however in a statement distanced himself from the incident adding that he has filed a criminal complaint against the activist at the police.
State of Media freedom in Ghana
Ghana’s constitution guarantees the independence of the media. Article 162 guarantees the freedom of the media.
“162. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY OF MEDIA.
(1) Freedom and independence of the media are hereby guaranteed.
(2) Subject to this Constitution and any other law not inconsistent with this Constitution, there shall be no censorship in Ghana.”
The constitution also sets up the National Media Commission (NMC) to promote freedom and independence of the media as well as ensure high journalistic standards.
The nation’s ranking on the Global press freedom index has been an issue of concern over the last few years. The country in 2023 fell two places from 60th in 2022 to 62nd. Reporters without borders, the organization that compiles the ranking, in its 2023 report stated as follows;
“Journalists’ safety has seriously deteriorated in recent years. In February 2022, three journalists were detained in the space of eight days and a fourth was very violently attacked. In May 2022, three unidentified individuals stormed into a radio station, smashed equipment and attacked the host and the producer of the show being broadcast. Politicians have meanwhile continued to make death threats against investigative journalists. Most cases of police violence against journalists are not pursued.”
The Latest attack is similar to other similar attacks at two other radio stations.
Radio Ada
In January 2022 some thugs attacked Radio Ada, destroyed equipment and furniture in some of the station’s offices and manhandled two staff members over the content aired on one of the station’s programmes. They later went into one of the studios and attacked the presenter and destroyed equipment. The Head of Programmes and External Communications at Radio Ada Julius Odoi, who confirmed the incident, said “The presenter in the studio shut the door, when he realised that the thugs were on their way in, but they forced their way and started slapping him.”
The Station had in the preceding weeks being critical of Government decision to had the management of salt concession in the area to a private company.
Dagbon FM
In May 2023, a radio presenter for Tamale-based Dagbon FM, Abubakari Sadiq Gariba was physically assaulted during a live broadcast. Mr. Gariba said the attack was triggered by his criticism of one of the attackers on the show for making ethnocentric comments. A viral video of the attack shows the moment when two unidentified men confronted him in his seat and threatened to slap him if he continued to speak”. The Police cautioned the attackers and indicated it was continuing with investigations.
The latest incident has once again sparked calls by media watchers for urgent steps to protect press freedom.
By Joseph Ackah-Blay,editors.3news.com
