GBC-DTT Brouhaha: President’s Directive To Suspend Ursula’s Channel Cut Order Neither Here Nor There – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has insisted that President Akufo Addo’s letter to Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu Ekuful to suspend directive to have Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)’s  channels cut on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform is neither here nor there.

Speaking to the press, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prapram Sam George said the National Media Commission (NMC) had already described the minister’s action as illegal therefore the President’s directive doesn’t add anything.

He described the directive as a “face-saving attempt” by the President.

“This fight against draconian leadership in the media space will continue to be fought by the Minority. We called you last week and drew your attention to the unconstitutional behaviour and actions of the Minister of Communication,” he said.

“The National Media Commission has sided with us that her actions were illegal, unconstitutional and she did not have any powers to direct GBC to shut down three of their stations and to ask Crystal TV to also shut down three of its stations.”

He added, I am glad the NMC has upheld Article 164, which says that editorial discretion must remain that of the media houses and nobody, not parliament, not the president [can interfere] …I have seen the face-saving release signed by the Director of Communication at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, saying that the president has instructed the minister to suspend the directive.”

“The president had over two weeks for taking such decision, so, the president is now doing what we call follow-back: he is simply trying to ride on the back of the decision of the NMC. The NMC has already described the minister’s action as illegal and, so, the president’s letter to her to suspend it is neither here nor there,” Sam George stated.

Source: GhanaFeed.com