Alhassan Suhuyini, Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency, has called the supposed letter from NPP to UTV for a reform to a show, unconstitutional.

Agreeing with Kwame Asare-Obeng (A-Plus), the panelist whose conduct on the show triggered an attack from some NPP youth on the live show, he deemed the letter “useless”.

According to Alhassan Suhuyini, Article 162 (4) of the 1992 Constitution bars anyone from attempting to control the editorial pieces of the media platforms.

“And I have seen that letter and I agree with A-Plus. That letter is a useless letter! What capacity does a political party have to write to a media house? But let us not forget that in the 1992 constitution under article 162 (4) it is stated clearly that nobody can control the editorial policy of a media platform.
“This letter from the NPP headquarters signed by William Yemoah is unconstitutional per article 162 (4) because it is seeking to direct, control and if possible harass that platform.”
Alhassan Suhuyini, MP

Also, the Member of Parliament extended his support to A-Plus in tearing the letter.

“And so I have listened to A-Plus and I agree with his tearing of the letter in protest of the letter”, he said.

He urged that the public be straightforward with the issues at hand which threaten the freedom of expression.

“Instead of dealing with the misconduct of the NPP and the youth of the party who stormed the studios, we think that we shouldn’t be skirting around the issues that threaten our freedoms as far as free expression is concerned.”
Alhassan Suhuyini, MP

He also praised the Ghana Journalist Association and National Media Commission for their condemnation of the attack on UTV.

“I have heard several comments on this. And let me say that some deserve commendation. Especially the one from the Ghana Journalists Association. They have been forthright, they have been straightforward with their condemnation. And that is how it should be. The National Media Commission has also done well with its position on this matter. “
Alhassan Suhuyini, MP

Furthermore, Alhassan Suhuyini expressed his worry about the deteriorating freedom of the media in global rankings.

“But some seek to skirt around the issues. And the context within which I want us to have this conversation is that for the last five years, Ghana’s ranking globally, when it comes to media freedoms has been dropping. In fact, in 2022, we dropped from 30th to 60th position. Such a huge drop! And it was said to be the lowest Ghana has ever been in 17 years.
“We dropped from 3^rd in Africa to 10^th in Africa. Now the question I want us to ask ourselves is how we expanded media freedoms from the military era and at the beginning of our 4^th republic to a point where we are at a 17-year low in 2022. How did we expand the freedoms that are now dropping? “
Alhassan Suhuyini, MP

A-Plus To Tear NPP’s Letter Again If Given The Opportunity

Meanwhile, the entertainment pundit and political activist, Kwame Asare Obeng (A-Plus) has said, that if given the opportunity again, he would destroy the letter that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wrote to the management of United Television (UTV).

According to A-Plus, he has the right to protest as enshrined in the Constitution hence his earlier action of ripping apart the letter on live television.

“I think everybody has the right to feel how they want to feel, there is nothing wrong with people criticizing people for their actions however, it doesn’t change the fact that if I get that letter now I will tear it again.
“I found that letter online, it wasn’t presented to me, I went online and got the PDF of it, printed it and as a form of protest, I ripped it apart. That is my right enshrined in the constitution that I can protest and for this kind of protest. I was not going to disturb public order so I did not need a police permit. It is fine, anybody can criticize me.”
Kwame Asare-Obeng (A-Plus)