The National Media Commission (NMC) recently set a deadline for Media General, the operators of Onua TV/FM, to issue an apology regarding a broadcast from 2021 by Captain Smart that has been deemed inciteful
In a letter dated November 21, 2023, the NMC warned of undisclosed actions against the station if they failed to comply with the November 24 deadline, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.
The letter, disclosed in a report by the Ghana News Agency, was specifically addressed to the Board Secretary of Onua TV/Onua FM. It came in response to a letter from the station regarding a petition against its 2021 broadcast.
This broadcast featured Captain Smart, a prominent on-air personality and host of the Onua Maakye show, making comments that were perceived as insulting to the army chief and his commanders.
Captain Smart called for an insurrection against the State of Ghana and its institutions,” the NMC letter at the time stated adding that the conduct, “by all standards, crossed the line of robust and critical broadcasting and transformed the radio station into a megaphone of war.
We consider your letter a red-herring strategy to avoid taking responsibility for your actions. Yet, we are prepared to extend our deadline to Friday, November 24, 2023, after which we may act without any further reference to you.” NMC boss, George Sarpong stated.
Commission issued a what it referred to as a “final caution” to Onua FM, urging the station to retract and apologize for directly insulting the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The NMC also instructed the station to apologize to the Ghanaian public for the use of vulgar language and advised the management to implement measures to curtail the station’s perceived “dangerous behavior.”
The Commission clarified that it possessed the authority to take various appropriate measures, citing mediation and settlement as only a few tools at its disposal. This underscores the Commission’s commitment to addressing the matter and achieving its objectives in maintaining responsible and respectful media practices within the country.
Ordinarily, we would not say more beyond this. However, since this is the second time you have willfully submitted yourselves to a misreading of the law, we feel obliged to point out to you that the law could not have intended that when we are faced with a broadcaster inciting mutiny within the Armed Forces as you are doing, we should be constrained by complaints settlement procedures, the Commission’s statement.
