Daily Guide Apologises To Napo Over “Monaco” Birthday Report

The Daily Guide Network has apologised to the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh for its May 31 banner headline.

The Manhyia South Member of Parliament wrote to the news outlet demanding an unqualified apology and retraction for its publication to the effect that the legislator had flown in a private jet to the “exquisite and highly trendy” city of Monaco for a lavish birthday celebration.

In its publication on June 2, Daily Guide admitted the report contained “certain factual inaccuracies”.

“We appreciate the need for accuracy and as such, we extend our apologies for the earlier misreport,” it said.

Background
The news network reported the Manhyia South Member of Parliament flew in a private jet to the “exquisite and highly trendy” city of Monaco for a lavish birthday celebration.

It reported the legislator as part of the celebration “witnessed the Formula 1 car racing championship” and had a “jolly good time celebrating his 55th birthday”.

Contrary to the publication, lawyers of Napo said he was in Ghana from May 22. As part of his schedule, he attended a meeting of the Economic Management Team (EMT) and later attended a meeting of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) on May 23 which was his birthday.

The next day, he was visited by the Communication team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at his residence and thereafter went to his office where he spent the rest of his day, his lawyers noted.

He, however, travelled subsequently but on KLM commercial flight, the letter dated June 1 said.

“Our client is of the view that your publication is nothing but a malicious attempt to court public dissatisfaction for him, for reasons best known to you,” it noted.

He further demanded a retraction and apology from the news outlet in their next newspaper edition.