The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has lamented that the state-owned media has failed to give the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) media publicity under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo .
According to the MP, who doubles as a ranking member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs committee, Mr. John Mahama and the NDC government while in power, did not sabotage the NPP using state-owned media companies including GBC, GNA, Graphic Communication, among others but the opposite seems to be happening under the current government.
He said this at a press soiree held in Ho on Saturday 18, January, where both present and former appointees of the party were present including party activists.
"They (NPP) are always on the front pages of the state-owned media, given prominence (on) the electronic state-owned media, GBC, GNA and we didn't dismiss anybody or criticize anybody or raise hell and that is how it should be but now, President Mahama can even be at Dagbon Yaa Naa outdooring ceremony for more than two hours and the GTV camera will not even pan for a second" he lamented.
The former deputy Minister is worried such practices are not healthy for Ghana's democratic environment saying " after twenty seven years of this fourth republican dispensation we are rather going back, in wanting to squeeze media freedom and stifle a section of the political divide, we cannot continue that way so I hope the state-owned media will change course and will be fair and balanced" he said.
It would be recalled that, some section of Ghanaians and party activists of the opposition NDC party criticized the country's main broadcaster, GTV for allegedly "blacking out" flagbearer of the party, John Mahama at the Ghana at sixty-two anniversary and the Dagbon chieftaincy ceremony.
Source: ghanaweb.com
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when the guy was shot in the eye and later died from the injuries, it was given prominence in the national papers. when Gabby was beaten mercilessly by the police, it was given prominence in the national media. not every demonstration is worthy of public attention. the space can be sold for money to the government. we need to focus on efficiency instead of needless demonstration.
They have never been fair to opposition so "fa no saa". You have your numerous stations doing the propaganda for so what is the fear.
MR. ABLAKWA, YOU KNOW THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TACTICS OF THE NPP WHEN THEY ARE IN POWER. DURING THE LAST YEARS OF FORMER PRESIDENT KUFFUOR, WHEN JOHN MAHAMA WENT TO VOLTA REGION TO CAMPAIGN KOFFOUR AUTHORISED THE POLICE NOT TO GIVE JOHN AUDIENCE AND PROTECTION BECAUSE THE WIFE OF THE THEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFFO ADDO WAS THERE TO CAMPAIGN FOR HER HUSBAND. IN KIBI THE PLATFORM THAT WAS MOUNTED TO HOST JOHN MAHAMA WAS RAISED DOWN WITH FINGERS POINTING TO THE ORDERS OF THE OKYEHENE AND NANA ADDO. SO THIS IS NOT STRANGE AT ALL. THAT IS WHY MOST OF US DON'T LISTERN TO GBC (GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION) AND ITS AFFILIATE STATIONS LIKE GTV. GBC IS TOO DOGMATIC.