UTV Invasion: GJA Bashes Oppong Nkrumah, NPP
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has observed the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is playing politics with the recent attack on United Television Ghana (UTV), a subsidiary of the Despite Media Group and has criticized it for that.
The Association on Sunday said it was “highly disappointed” in the Minister for justifying the “barbaric” invasion of the studio to interrupt the United Showbiz live programme- a weekly entertainment programme- on October 7.
“The GJA has also taken notice of a press statement issued by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, on the happenings at UTV, but we are highly disappointed in the Minister for issuing that wobbling statement.”
The GJA believes statement by the former journalist subtly tries to justify the attack.
“In the second paragraph of the press statement, the Minister tries to justify the barbaric attack by holding that the hooligans entered UTV “allegedly without authorization” when he was the very person who reported to, and called in, the Police; in the fourth paragraph, the minister avoids direct condemnation of the hooligans and conveniently makes his condemnation general, and, worst of all, in the last paragraph, the Minister imposes a burden on the media to promote national cohesion. regardless of the incessant attacks against them.”
It finds the Minister’s reaction to sharply contrast his response to a similar attack in Tamale on May 3, 2023 when a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress was at fault.
“The Minister’s press statement is in sharp contrast to another one issued by the PR Unit of his Ministry on May 4, 2023, in respect of the attack on a radio presenter on Dagbon FM in Tamale by a communicator of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The Ministry condemned the act, specifically without giving it general direction; the Ministry called for “severe and speedy response from law enforcement agencies” to avoid future recurrence: the Minister had a telephone conversation with victim of assault and the Minister “offered the support of the Ministry if he will require any”.
“Between the two cases – Dagbon FM and UTV, the Minister of Information and/or the Ministry of Information has or have not been even-handed in addressing the critical issues at stake, and we find that very worrying.”
NPP Letter
The Association also bashed the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their letter dated September 19 demanding a review in the programme content.
The letter written by the Director of Finance and Administration, William Yamoah and sanctioned by the leadership of the party spelt out their displeasure at what they called the lending the programme to serve the interest of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“The programme now frequently features intemperate language, unconstructive rants and outright insults directed at the Presidency by panelists. This has become a recurring pattern that raises the question of whether the show has inadvertently transitioned into a political talk show,” a portion of the letter to the Management of UTV said before calling for balance in representation. (winecountry.com)
The GJA classified the letter “disturbing” and “unfortunate” and an attempt to tame and control the media.
“Interestingly, the letter, dated September 19, 2023, was signed by the Director of Finance and Administration, William Yamoah, a rather unusual source of communication with the media in such matters,” it said.
Attack
Some young men associated with the NPP stormed the studio of UTV where the live show was airing.
This was after a panel member appeared shredding the letter from the NPP during the previous edition (September 30) of the show.
Sixteen of them were arrested by the police after a complaint by the organization and the Ministry of Information.
