The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) is urging stakeholders and the Ghana Police Service to expedite action on the 16 persons arrested for their invasion on a live program at UTV in Accra.
They are also asking to ensure the arrested persons are arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction so as to serve as a deterrent to others.
The group in a statement expressed worry about the occurrence of such actions as what transpired at the studios of the Accra-based UTV following Ghana’s recent drop in the annual Global Press Freedom ranking by Reporters without Borders (RSF).
In the report, Ghana dropped from the 60th in 2022 to the 62nd position in 2023 of the Press Freedom ranking.
To the group, what transpired at the said studio should draw the urgent attention of concerned stakeholders for deliberate action to restore hope to the Ghanaian media landscape.
The unknown persons believed to be affiliated with the ruling NPP stormed UTV without authorization and interrupted the live show UNITED SHOWBIZ in protest against the comments and actions of one of its panellists, A Plus.
A- Plus in a previous episode is said to have shared divergent views and also tore apart a letter addressed to the management of UTV regarding the program reform.
The invasion received wide condemnation from various stakeholders with concern about the abuse of Ghana’s Press Freedom.
Meanwhile, the National Patriotic Party has distanced itself saying it did not authorize the unknown persons to invade the UTV studios.
In an interview with Citi News, The Director of Communications for the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah said “The party did not sanction anyone to go and disrupt the United Showbiz programme as was reported. We have moved swiftly to make an apology to them [UTV], and we are going to cooperate with the police to investigate the matter. We think that the attack is unacceptable, and it’s condemnable”
The Ghana Police Service has so far arrested sixteen persons in connection with the invasion at the studios of UTV.
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Source: ATLFMNEWS
