The Minority in Parliament has condemned an attack on the studios of Ghana’s Most watched private station, United Television (UTV) by hooligans from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In a statement, the minority said the attack was “Planned and deliberate”.
“We condemn the backward, primitive, uncivilised and violent disruption of the live television programme by the NPP thugs whose singular motivation was to visit mayhem and anarchy on the station as well as the show’s host and panellists.” A portion of the statement reads
The attack took place during a live broadcast of UTV's prime-time entertainment show, "United Showbiz" on Saturday.
The hooligans stormed the studios, disrupted the program, and threatened to assault the host and her guests.
Read below the minority’s statement
The Minority in Parliament has noted with concern a planned and deliberate violent attack on United TV (UTV) by hoodlums of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government during the station’s Saturday night entertainment show, United Showbiz.
We condemn the backward, primitive, uncivilised and violent disruption of the life television programme by the NPP thugs whose singular motivation was to visit mayhem and anarchy on the station as well as the show’s host and panelists.
It is a matter of public record that the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government has been unhappy with the UTV show for a while now and has officially written to the station to change the show’s editorial policy and turn it into another praise-singing programme for the government.
Saturday night’s attack on UTV adds to the already very long list of NPP government- sponsored attacks on the media as part of its systematic clampdown on media freedom and free speech. The Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government closed down many FM radio stations across the country for over three years because it perceived them to be critical of its abysmal performance in government.
Increasingly, the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government’s posture has been at variance with the inherent principle of free speech. It is precisely because unpleasant speech is contemplated, that is why free speech is guaranteed in civilised democracies. It is therefore unfortunate that the government tolerates only pleasant speech. The purpose of free speech is defeated if it is limited to just the expression of pleasant speech.
The government must be reminded that this is a constitutional democracy with media freedoms and free speech guaranteed. It therefore cannot continue to bastardise these constitutional rights by harassing media organisations and media practitioners simply because the government does not like what is said or that its poor performance is subjected to public scrutiny and its sins exposed.
We call on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and other civil society groups to roundly condemn these NPP governments- sponsored thuggery and hold the government accountable for these shameful and backward attacks on the media by pro-government goons.
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana
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I would say again, we should be mindful of our words. If there is evidence to this allegation please bring it out and stop the uncalled for propaganda.
Those who are not happy being referred to as hooligans are referring to others as thugs. Do unto others as you would want others to do to you. This is clearly a misunderstanding between two individuals and their supporters and not between parties. The NPP has stated in clear language that they do not support what the guys did . Period. Let the police investigate.
DKB you are ***barred word*** panin! Do you think Ghana belong to you and only NDC right. We didn’t witness NDC and John Mahama government. Your part even don’t know how to accept their wrong doing and you are here just saying what will make you happy.
NDC? So it was the NDC party that asked Stan Dogbe ( am told he was a presidential errands boy under John Mahama) to snatch a camera from a news reporter and smashed it in the full glare of the public? This happened when you Ato Forson was a deputy minister. You didn't condemn that one. You (NDC/NPP ) are identical twins. There is no difference between the two parties especially the John Mahama one and the Addo nana one.
Nkwasia comments saaaa... Even when the party has apologies .. npp is tearing apart, things are falling apart. You will never know until your finally land yourselves in opposition
The alternative is very scary...all that NDC does is to wait for an issue to crop up,hold press conference and do propaganda and mischief,wow,what an opposition.No policy,no ideas,no alternative solution...only spraying millions of dollars in demo and propaganda...oh NDC,Ghanaians don't have short memories...you did worst against the media when you were in power!
Look at these (p)NDC hooligans talking... you were born out of a military take over.