Caucus For Mature Democrats (CMD), a Civil Society Organization has condemned the National Media Commission’s letter and directives issued to a private media house based in Accra, Power FM directing it to retract and apologize for a derogatory statement made against the Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, and the Fulani community in Ghana.
Reacting to the statement issued by the National Media Commission on November 6 2023, the Caucus For Mature Democrats expressed its disappointment at the National Media Commission’s directives and described its letter as ‘unfair and needless’.
According to the Caucus For Mature Democrats, the National Media Commission is required to protect the media and journalists fairly but not so ‘hypocritical, whimsical and capricious’ as the Commission did in its directives to Power FM.
“The Caucus For Mature Democrats has followed a radio discussion keenly on Power 97.9 FM radio station and noted with disappointment and anger, an NMC written letter to Power FM radio station ordering them to apologize for a radio panel discussion where one of the panel members lashed out at Samira Bawumia like she always lashed out at former president John Dramani Mahama ever since 2016 and continue to do.
“We were all in Ghana here when Samira Bawumia continuously called President John Dramani Mahama, the incompetent one from one radio station to the other and one TV station to the other. Where was the NMC and why didn’t they issue such a letter to the TV and radio stations she did that?’
Caucus For Mature Democrats
Group Accuses NMC Of Silencing Critical Voices
Again, the Caucus For Mature Democrats accused the National Media Commission of deliberatively acting in a manner that silence critical voices and voices of reason in the country.
The Caucus For Mature Democrats thus cautioned the National Media Commission to desist from issuing such directives and orders against media practitioners and political activists in the country.
The group also accused the government of deliberately collapsing the country’s economy and the Bank of Ghana for making huge losses.
“As a Civil Society Organization responsible for echoing Accountable Governance, equal rights to societal development, growth, upholding the constitution and safeguarding our democracy, we will not allow the National Media Commission to introduce such divisive behaviour in our politics and media space. We condemn in no uncertain terms, such a needless letter to the radio station. Such attempts to gag the media, Ghanaians and journalists by the NMC is unacceptable and will not be tolerated”.
Caucus For Mature Democrats
Meanwhile, Maame Abena Siem Mensa-Bonsu, Associate Professor at Ashesi University has chastised the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah for his statement decrying the increasing trend of assaults against journalists in the country.
According to the constitutional theorists at Ashesi University the Minister of Information must redirect his charge to Cabinet to provide actionable plans to safeguard journalists’ rights and freedom rather than complaining.
“The Minister, the speech he made he should have made it in Cabinet. And then after he’s made the speech, the people the cabinet ministers should have responded ‘Chooboi’ and sat down and come up with an action plan for this coordinated mechanism that includes all of the ministers whose portfolios these institutions fall under. And they should have come up with a plan from within the government when he speaks to the people is not a ‘chooboi’.He’s coming to tell us how he’s doing his job. How the government is doing its job”.
Maame Abean Siem Mensa-Bonsu
Dr Mensah-Bonsu asserted that the obligation of government in dealing with such development is explicitly stated within the country’s laws and therefore must be held accountable.
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