The National Media Commission (NMC) has issued a final warning to Onua Radio/TV and Captain Smart over an inciteful broadcast aired by the station last week.
The press statement, signed and issued by the Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, highlighted the station’s dangerous and unprofessional behaviour.
The statement addressed how Captain Smart directly insulted the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) by referring to them as “beasts.”
In addition, Captain Smart made claims that the officers embezzled money meant for soldiers on peacekeeping operations, yet failed to provide any evidence to support these allegations.
The NMC expressed concern over the station’s persistence in promoting violence against the state, despite previous warnings.
In December 2022, the NMC alerted Onua Radio/TV of their use of the station to propagate violence and their management’s inability to address the issue.
The NMC’s statement emphasized the need for the station to implement measures to cease such dangerous behaviour. Additionally, they called for an improvement in the station’s capacity for regulatory compliance. The NMC also demanded an apology from Onua Radio/TV to the CDS and his commanders for the insults made.
Moreover, they urged the station to apologize to the Ghanaian public for the use of vulgar language.
The NMC expects Onua Radio/TV to undertake the recommended actions and provide evidence of their compliance before November 19, 2023. Failure to do so may lead to further actions taken by the Commission.
It is essential for media outlets to exercise responsible journalism, and the NMC plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with ethical standards.
The Commission’s final warning serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding professionalism and avoiding inciteful and baseless allegations.
Soruce: Dailyguidenetwork.com
