Public Relations Specialist Dzifa Gunu has alleged that GhanaWeb, one of Ghana’s leading online media platforms, has implemented a blacklist barring coverage of several prominent individuals, including politicians, media personalities, and public figures.
The claim was made in a post on her Facebook page, where Gunu suggested that the decision was made following the acquisition of GhanaWeb by an NPP Member of Parliament, Dr. Ayew Afriyie.
In her post, Dzifa Gunu wrote, “So, GhanaWeb was bought by NPP MP, Dr. Ayew Afriyie and this is what he is now doing.”
The alleged internal notice circulating within the media platform outlined the list of individuals and entities that GhanaWeb would restrict from its coverage based on specific conditions. The list was divided into two categories: a “business decision” and a “health grounds” restriction.
Under the business decision category, the individuals and entities allegedly restricted from coverage include:
- Sam George
- Lydia Forson
- Ransford Gyampo
- Kevin Taylor
- Twene Jonas
- Bongo Ideas
- Paul Adom-Otchere and his show Good Evening Ghana
- Media houses considered competitors
For the health grounds category, the reported blacklisted individuals include:
- Daniel Duncan-Williams (son of Nicholas Duncan-Williams)
- Abena Korkor
- Funny Face
- Moesha Boduong
The notice reportedly provided specific conditions under which some of these individuals may still receive coverage. For instance, Sam George will only be covered if he addresses Parliament, while Paul Adom-Otchere can only be covered in his capacity as Board Chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Ltd.
The allegations by Dzifa Gunu appear to confirm claims made earlier by Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George. In July 2024, Sam George alleged during an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana that GhanaWeb had been acquired by a Member of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He hinted that this acquisition was part of a broader strategy by the NPP to gain control of influential platforms ahead of the 2024 elections.
Sam George stated: “The NPP is so desperate to win power. They don’t believe that Dr. Bawumia and Dr. Napo on their own strengths can win them power. They need to capture every aspect of the tape.”
He further elaborated that GhanaWeb, once seen as a neutral platform, was now under the control of the NPP. According to Sam George, GhanaWeb’s parent company, African Web Technologies, was run by a Dutch man named Robela, who after a legal dispute, sought financial help from investors, leading to the sale.
Sam George claimed: “Our colleague in Parliament on the NPP side paid 1 million euros to take over GhanaWeb. He has installed as the CEO his wife’s brother by the name of David Antwi as the new Managing Director.”
While Sam George did not explicitly name the NPP MP behind the acquisition, his accusations have raised concerns about the media landscape ahead of the 2024 elections. He went on to suggest that the alleged takeover has turned GhanaWeb into an extension of the NPP’s propaganda machine, asserting, “It is important that Ghanaians now know that GhanaWeb is no longer that objective mouthpiece. GhanaWeb has now become like Daily Search Light. It is an extension of the NPP propaganda wing.”
As of now, neither Dr. Ayew Afriyie nor GhanaWeb has responded to the allegations.