AFAG: Boycott Of Multimedia Is Infantile, Reverse It Or,......

Political pressure group, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has issued a 72 hour ultimatum to government to reverse its decision to place a ban on journalists working with Multimedia Group Limited (MGL) from covering state functions saying the decision is highly irresponsible, infantile and a flagrant abuse of the constitution. The group, in a statement issued today, threatened to haul government before court if their ultimatum goes unheeded. Below is the statement issued by AFAG. BAN ON MULTIMEDIA NETWORK; ILLEGAL AND INFANTILE The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) deems the ban placed by government on Multimedia network from covering state functions as highly irresponsible, a discrimination against the economic rights of multimedia network and above all abuse of executive powers. AFAG is by this statement calling on Ghanaians especially the media to rise up against the NDC government in defense of their rights guaranteed under the 1992 republic constitution. For the records, Article 296(b) stipulates �where in this constitution or in any other discretionary power is vested in any person or authority- the exercise of the discretionary power shall not be arbitrary, capricious or biased either by resentment, prejudice or personal dislike and shall be in accordance with the due process of law�. Additionally, Article 17 (section 1 and 2) provides that all persons shall be equal before the law and not discriminated against on grounds of, among others; social or economic status. From the above, it is obvious that the decision of the government is a flagrant abuse of the stated provision of the constitution. AFAG strongly condemns this illegality in no uncertain terms especially when the reasons given by government is scanty and unsustainable. Again as a group, we also find the inability of the government in performing the simplest of tasks in differentiating between party and government very bizarre. It should be said that although political parties are public institutions, its mandate should not in any way be confused with that of the state. AFAG is hereby giving the government 72 hours to reverse the decision or meet AFAG in court. Signed: Bright Acheampong 0545230621 Ohene Djan 0263121391 Joshua Kyeremateng 0249293508 Davis Opoku Ansah 0244861593