The management of Ignite Media Group (IMG), operators of Metro TV, Original TV, and Original 91.1 FM, has issued a strong condemnation following an attack on their premises by armed policemen, an auctioneer, and a court bailiff earlier today.
The incident, described as a “flagrant disruption of media operations,” occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. at IMG’s offices in North Ridge, Accra.
According to a statement released by IMG, the attackers “purported to be acting under a court order to execute a judgment against Metro TV.”
This incident marks a continuation of disputes involving an auctioneer, identified as George Addo of Geld Mart, who has allegedly engaged in prior aggressive actions against the media group.
“The auctioneer, the bailiff together with the armed policemen forcibly broke into the studio when the Good Morning Ghana Programme was live.
“The auctioneer declared an avowed purpose to disrupt the live Good Morning Ghana Programme and therefore charged his team to break into the said studio which they did leading to the disruption of the live broadcast of the programme.”
Management of Ignite Media Group (IMG)
The forceful entry reportedly caused panic among the staff, panelists, and viewers, as the program was abruptly cut off. In the ensuing chaos, an IMG private security officer sustained a head injury while attempting to resist the group’s unauthorized actions.
This is not the first time George Addo and his associates have targeted IMG. Last year, Addo allegedly orchestrated a similar operation involving heavily armed, masked policemen in an attempt to seize the vehicle of Dr. Randy Abbey, a prominent journalist and host of Good Morning Ghana.
That incident, according to IMG, was also linked to the same court judgment that purportedly justifies these actions. Dr. Abbey successfully resisted the attempted seizure, arguing that the property in question belonged to him personally and not to Metro TV.
IMG characterized the latest attack as part of a troubling pattern of harassment aimed at the media company and its staff, raising concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Ghana.
In today’s incident, IMG’s security personnel and staff resisted what they described as an “improper and irregular attempt” to execute the court judgment. The statement accused the auctioneer and his armed collaborators of using excessive force during their intrusion.
The injuries sustained by the security officer underscore the physical risks that staff faced during the confrontation.
The disruption not only endangered the safety of employees but also violated the trust of the public who rely on Metro TV for independent and uninterrupted programming.
This level of aggression, according to IMG, has caused significant distress to both the on-air team and the broader workforce at the company.
Police Intervention and IGP’s Response
The alarming nature of the attack prompted the intervention of Ghana’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare. The IGP personally dispatched a police team to the scene to restore order and remove the auctioneer, bailiff, and armed policemen from the premises.
“Dr. Dampare assured IMG management of a thorough investigation into the incident and pledged to provide adequate security at the media group’s premises to prevent future occurrences.”
Management of Ignite Media Group (IMG)
IMG welcomed the swift response from the IGP and his team, describing it as a critical step toward ensuring justice and accountability.
The attack on IMG raises significant questions about the enforcement of court orders and the extent to which legal processes are weaponized to intimidate and silence media houses.
The Ghanaian Constitution guarantees press freedom and underscores the importance of an independent media in fostering democracy. Actions such as those witnessed at IMG today threaten these constitutional protections and create a chilling effect on journalists and broadcasters.
Media advocacy groups and civil society organizations are expected to weigh in on the matter, with many likely to view this incident as part of a worrying trend of threats against media independence in Ghana.
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