President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Albert Dwumfuor, has indicated press freedom is under threat following the confrontation between the Kumasi Traditional Council and Oyerepa FM.
Mr. Dwumfuor says despite the regard and need to adhere to customs and traditions by giving honour to the traditional authority and whoever honour is due, the order asking the radio station to halt operations was far fetched.
He was speaking on News 360 on TV3 Friday, August 26, 2022, citing the Ada Traditional Council and Radio Ada impasse as a similar issue that in a way deepens Ghana’s recent drop on the press freedom ranking.
“I think that press freedom, is under threat, and we believe that we have so much to do to take out rightful place when it comes to the press freedom index. This is because we only know of the Ada Traditional Council and that of the Kumasi Traditional Council,” he averred.
Meanwhile, there are a couple of cases involving the traditional authority and media houses currently before the National Media Commission according to the GJA president.
“Today, my investigation results from reaching out to the National Media Commission, I was informed that this year alone, the confrontation between traditional councils and media houses and radio stations have been very phenomenal and we can count of about ten confrontation already. It means that this is an issue which is very worrying and that is why we want to explore all avenues including but not limited to dialogue to resolve these matters,” he revealed.
Mr. Dwumfuor added the Association is going to meet with the traditional council Monday to enquire if there was something more to the decision than the comments Odike made.
“So we want to understand properly whether what triggered their actions was only caused by Odike’s pronouncements or there are other issues, which we’d like to understand.
“We also do not want to pre-empt whatever we’re going to discuss with the traditional council on Monday because we’re gathered a lot of information and we’re well armed and on Monday we believe that our position will be made clear to the traditional council and the traditional authorities and then we’d address the media,” he said.
Oyerepa FM was shut down by the Kumasi Traditional Council for giving Akwasi Addai Odike their medium to chastise chiefs in the Ashanti Region for allowing galamsey on their laands unconcerned.
Meanwhile, some residents of Kumasi have also described the punishment as a bit harsh.
By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com
