Stop Kwaku Sakyi-Addo From Broadcasting – Sam George Petitions Communications Ministry

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Mr Samuel Nartey George has petitioned the Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekulful, against the Board Chairman of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Mr Kwaku Sakyi-Addo’s move to host a radio programme.
Mr Sakyi-Addo is expected to host a show on the newly established Accra-based Asaase Radio.

However, in the view of Mr George, this will amount to a conflict of interest given that the veteran broadcaster will be working for a radio station that he is supposed to regulate as the Board Chairman of the NCA.

He explained that in the event Asaase Radio is engaged in an action that goes contrary to laid down rules and regulations in the industry, Mr Sakyi-Addo may not have the freeness of speech and the will to act because he works for that station.

In the petition dated Thursday, June 4, and addressed to the Ministry of Communications, Sam George indicated that he had seen an artwork advertising a programme dubbed Sunday Night starting on 14th June 2020 at 7 pm on newly outdoored Asaase Radio 99.5 FM.
 
“This programme is to be hosted by the veteran journalist Kwaku Sakyi-Addo as per the advertisement. It would be refreshing to hear the veteran back on the air. However, regardless of how refreshing it would be to see the respected journalist back on the airwaves, he is still the board chairman of the National Communications Authority (NCA) at my last check, which is the regulator of radio stations like the one he is about to start working for,” the statement read.

“It is my considered belief that this situation is far from ideal and appears to be becoming the status quo giving the fact that another Board Member, Paul Adom-Otchere is also actively working in another media house (Metro TV) on the Good Evening Ghana program as host. Regulators should not be players in the same industry space they are expected to regulate, as that would hamper the confidence of other players in the same space,” it added.

Below is a copy of the petition