Media General, employers of Blessed Godsbrain Smart, known in popular parlance as Captain Smart, have come to his vigorous defense.
The Radio Presenter and Impresario was arrested and subsequently bailed on Thursday for what the Ghana Police Service describe as inciting statements on radio. The National Media Commission (NMC) has stated that it is concerned about some of the comments that have come from Mr. Smart of late.
However, in a press release in Accra on Thursday, December 2, 2021, Media General owners of Onua FM and Onua TV, employers of Captain Smart, stated that the Nima Divisional Police Command arrested broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as ‘’ Captain Smart’’ the host of the morning show ‘’ Onua Maakye’’ on Media General subsidiaries, Onua TV and Onua FM.
The statement noted that at about 11am on Thursday, Smart received officers from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) in his home who invited him to their office, to which he obliged. He was subsequently taken to the Nima Police station in Accra for interrogation.
At the Nima Police Station, Smart was cautioned on the ‘’offence of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace as provided under section 207 of the Criminal Act, 1960 (Act 29).’’ He provided a caution statement and then was granted bail.
The statement, which was signed by Christopher Koney, Group Head of Corporate Affairs of Media General, stated that according to the Police, the arrest of Captain Smart was due to some unsavoury pronouncements he was alleged to have made that, according to them, hinged on the peace and security of the country.
“However, Media General believes that the statement made by Captain Smart should not be one that should be interpreted in the manner that the Police did and also to add that we are increasingly concerned about the new trend of arrest of journalists and media practitioners.
“This recent trend of picking journalists has affected journalists who work with Media General who are simply doing their work and, like every Ghanaian, should be protected by the Constitution.
“Today’s arrest and detention of Captain Smart is by no means an isolated incident, but just one more egregious example of the intolerance increasingly creeping into the Ghanaian society. We are convinced that a careful review of the entire statement made by Captain Smart would reveal that it did not amount to threats to the peace and or stability of the country as claimed by the Ghana Police,” the statement noted.
The Media General Group urged the Ghana Police Service and the IGP to exercise restraint in their dealings with journalists legitimately doing their work and dismiss these broad charges so that press freedom would be protected.
“We at Media General shall continue to preach and exercise responsible journalism. However, we would continue to empower our journalists and broadcasters to be fearless, honest and forthright in their professional outlook always,” the statement said.
NMC Calls For Decency in Media
Even as reports emerged that he had been arrested, the National Media Commission (NMC) said that it was 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 followed 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 on 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.
