Media General has received a warning from the National Media Commission (NMC) not to use its channel, Onua TV, to incite violence.
Additionally, the NMC asked the media outlet to take action to stop what it considers to be Onua TV’s “dangerous behavior.”
“Last week, your station carried an inciteful broadcast in which Captain Smart directly insulted the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) as beasts.”
“He claimed the officers embezzle monies meant for soldiers on peace keeping operations but offered no evidence to back his claims. This was as dangerous as it was unprofessional,” the NMC said in a statement issued Tuesday, 14 November 2023.
The NMC also voiced alarm about the station’s continued actions in spite of warning it that it was using its platform to incite violence against the government.
“We are now compelled to come to the board again as a way of giving the company a last opportunity for internal gatekeeping,” the NMC stressed.
Additionally, it demanded that the station “remove the insults and extend an apology to the CDS and his commanders.” We further request that the broadcaster issue an apology to the Ghanaian people for using derogatory words.
It also asked the station to “withdraw the insults and apologize to the CDS and his commanders. We further ask the station to apologize to the Ghanaian public for the use of vulgar language”
The station must comply with the NMC’s decision and provide proof of compliance by November 19, 2023, at the latest, or else the Commission stated that it “may hear further from” it.