Even as reports emerge that he has been arrested, the National Media Commission (NMC) says that it is very concerned about a programme on Onua FM on Wednesday December 1, 2021, in which a presenter at the station called for insurrection against the state of Ghana because he disagreed with the conduct of Members of Parliament.
The NMC asserted that the presenter further made odious references to the chieftaincy institution and indicted in particular the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Okyenhene Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin.
“The NMC is concerned because any call for insurrection and defiance against the state offends the Constitution. The Commission will not do anything to censor or control media personnel in the discharge of their responsibilities but will condone acts that undermine the stability of the state under the guise of free expression,” the NMC said in a release dated December 2, 2021. It was titled
‘NMC WARNS ONUA FM AND CALLS FOR DECENCY IN THE MEDIA’.
The release from the NMC follows on the heels of reports that Captain Smart (officially called Blessed Godsbrain Smart) had been arrested by the police after the broadcast on Wednesday.
The NMC noted in its release that at a recent meeting with the Council of State to discuss free and responsible media practice in Ghana, the conduct of the same presenter came up.
“At that time, he had invoked a curse that any Chief serving on the Council of State who took an official vehicle from the state must die in an accident.
“Similarly, the attention of the Commission was drawn to another programme in which the same presenter without any basis, had disparaged the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. On that occasion, management of the station agreed to provide airtime to the Ministry to use its platform for public education about the misinformation and disinformation broadcast on the station.
“In all these, the NMC quietly engaged some management personnel of the station on how to improve the performance of the presenter,” the NMC stated.
The release, signed by Mr. George Sarpong, Executive Secretary of NMC, went o that in the specific case of the call for insurrection because it offends provisions of the 1992 Constitution, the very document which guarantees the fundamental human rights and freedoms of our people, the Commission can no longer remain silent but draw attention of media organisations and personnel to take their responsibilities serious in the face of article 41 which provides among other things that there can be no exercise of freedom without corresponding obligation.
“Accordingly the Commission wishes to remind the media that in as far as we would not expect any authority or individual to undermine media freedom, the media must be responsible and appreciate that their right must recognise provisions of Article 164. We further appeal to media owners to ensure that they develop institutional guidelines and standards of practice to make their media organisations relevant to democracy, good governance, due process and the rule of law,” the Commission concluded.
The press release from the Commission follows a letter it had written to Onua FM, where Captain Smart hosts a program,that it is concerned about part of its broadcast.
“Part of your broadcast raises concern for the peace and security of the country in a manner that demands immediate regulatory action.
“We are particularly concerned about a recent broadcast in which “Captain Smart” calls for insurrection against the state of Ghana and its institutions,” the NMC stated in that letter.
Captain Smart is one of Accra’s well-known broadcasters famous for his acerbic on-air positions about public and political issues. As we went to press, there were reports that he has been arrested in the same matter.
The release from the NMC was dated 2nd December 2, 2021. It was signed by Mr. George Sarpong, Executive Secretary and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Onua Fm, Accra. It was titled ‘UNPROFESIONAL AND INCITEFUL BROADCAST’.
The NMC said that the impugned broadcast by all standards, crosses the line of robust and critical broadcasting and transforms your radio station into a megaphone of war.
“While that particular broadcast, without more, constitutes adequate grounds for regulatory action, we still retain the belief that given the chance, management could take steps to bring your content unto a level of professional acceptability. We are fortified in this belief by the fact that considerable parts of your other broadcast, including the news, offer that hope.
“We would be glad if you noted that exercising the required professional caution is in your interest,” the report said.
The letter to Onua FM was copied to the President, Ghana Journalists’ Association, Accra, the President, Ghana Independent Broadcasters’ Association, Accra, he President, Private Newspaper Publishers’ Association, Accra, and the media.
