NMC’s unhealthy approach exposes its agenda to discredit the good work of Onua TV/FM – Media General Board

The Board of Media General has described the approach that the National Media Commission (NMC) has adopted in treating Onua TM/ Onua FM as an unhealthy approach that exposes its underlying agenda to discredit the good work of the Onua brand and the entire Media General Ghana Group.

The Board of Media General said that the failure of the NMC in exercising the principle of natural justice which requires accused persons to be heard is dangerous and should not be countenanced.

The NMC had written to the management of Media General regarding the operations of Onua TV/ Onua FM stating among other things that ” we draw your attention to the use of your station to promote violence against the state and your management’s lack of lack of capacity to address same.”

But the board of Media General said “It is submitted that the entire approach of the NMC is dangerous and amounts to censorship of the media, which for all intents and purposes could not have been the intention of the framers of the law. We believe that the Constitution in its wisdom upholds the right to a fair hearing and due process, even in matters subject to regulatory oversight.

“The NMC’s unhealthy approach to this matter raises questions about its underlying agenda to discredit the good work of the Onua brand and the entire Media General Ghana Group. Indeed, the constant leaking of letters addressed to the Board of Media General Group on online news and WhatsApp platforms hours before the letters are served on the Board is indicative of a premediated and unlawful agenda on the part of the NMC. Assuming without admitting that the NMC’s interpretation of the law is correct one will also expect the NMC to be open to dialogue. It is indeed a shame that three decades after the promulgation of the 1992 Constitution, a constitutionally mandated body such as the NMC will call a request for an opportunity to be heard before a decision is taken on any matter a ‘red herring strategy’.

The Board believed that it is imperative that the NMC follows due process in the performance of its functions.

“The Board notes with great concern the biased, unfair and unlawful conduct of the NMC for the following reasons: The subject matter mentioned by Captain Smart in the publication under reference is a matter of national interest that has been investigated by the ONUA TV Morning Show Team. It is imperative to note that, at no point in time during the said broadcast of the publication, did Captain Smart talk about mutiny, insurrection etc. In fact, he has in previous publications stated his dislike of coup d’état, political insurrection, rebellion, revolution whatsoever. It therefore came as a surprise to the Board when it received no complaints or any invitations from NMC for any investigation to be conducted to ascertain the truth or otherwise of what was alleged to have been broadcasted. Rather, the NMC resorted to issuing sanctions of withdrawal and an apology. Furthermore, the NMC’s categorization of what Captain Smart is alleged to have said during the broadcast in question as