The Special Aide to Former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari has criticized the National Media Commission over what she described as a deliberate attempt by the Commission to silence critical journalism in the country.
Reacting to the National Media Commission’s letter to the National Communications Authority (NCA), requesting the suspension of the authorization of Onua TV and Onua FM over their alleged incessant attacks on personalities, Madam Mogtari accused the National Media Commission of abusing its powers as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
She thus chastised the National Media Commission for failing to give Onua TV and Onua FM the needed and required room for hearing and emphasized that such conduct by the Commission only undermines media freedom in the country.
“I don’t even know what to say but as our young people quite often say, it will reach everybody. Sometimes when you see your neighbour’s house on fire, you assume that it is not your turn and that it will never happen to you, and so you sit and watch and think that this is just how it is going to be. The National Media Commission is a creature of the 1992 Constitution; it is one of those bodies that was set up largely to defend more than anything media freedom generally; that is the duty of the National Media Commission.
“How has this media commission fared since President Akufo-Addo and his Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia came into office is anachronistic and archaic to even start to ask that in the 21st century in the year 2023, we have a media commission that writes such a personal letter”.
Joyce Bawah Mogtari
Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari further commended the Management of Onua TV and Onua FM for demonstrating courage and firmness amidst such discriminatory attacks on the media stations.
According to her, the response from the Management of Onua TV and Onua FM on the National Media Commission’s attacks against its media stations exposes the abuses of power by the Commission.
NMC Accused Of Selective Application Of Its Rules
Furthermore, Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari accused the National Media Commission of selective application and enforcement of its rules against some media houses in the country.
She lamented over the deliberate and constant refusal by the National Media Commission to act on several complaints from the Office of Former President John Dramani Mahama against some media houses on instances of attack against Mr Mahama.
“I am not surprised because, I have personally reported countless attacks on Former President John Dramani Mahama, his wife and his family particularly on Wontumi TV to the National Media Commission but it has refused to take action. I have even written official letters of complaint but yet it has refused to act; not even a courtesy or out of respect a single invitation has been given to me on the basis that this individual [Former President John Mahama] was once a leader of our country and that if he has a complaint at least, some effort, a certain modicum of respect should be given to him; I don’t recall”.
Joyce Bawah Mogtari
Moreover, Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari bemoaned the country’s declining performance in media freedom rankings according to reports by global institutions under President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party administration.
According to her, the country’s declining performance in media freedom rankings is mainly due to the ‘state-sponsored attacks’ on some selected media houses in the country.
“We lived in this country in 2015, Ghana ranked 22nd ahead of the United Kingdom on media freedom rankings. I celebrate and acknowledge John Mahama for his tolerance; to date any time the lawyer in me has said to Mr. Mahama we need to go to court over some media attacks, he pleads we stop. Mr Mahama believe that things like that may seem to undermine the little media freedom we have in this country”
Joyce Bawah Mogtari
Meanwhile, the Deputy National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Rabi Salifu has urged the National Media Commission to collaborate with the Management of Onua TV and Onua FM to resolve concerns between the two parties.
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