The National Media Commission (NMC) has issued a final warning to Onua Radio/TV and Captain Smart concerning an inflammatory broadcast.
In a press statement dated Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the NMC highlighted Captain Smart’s direct insult towards the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), referring to them as “beasts” during a recent broadcast.
The NMC further pointed out that Captain Smart had alleged without providing evidence that these officers misappropriated funds intended for soldiers on peacekeeping operations.
Describing the broadcast as “dangerous” and “unprofessional,” the NMC noted that it had previously warned Onua Radio/TV about promoting violence against the state in December 2022, and the station had not taken corrective measures.
Onua Radio/TV and Captain Smart are required to comply with the following by November 19, 2023:
- Withdraw the insults and issue an apology to the CDS and his commanders.
- Apologize to the Ghanaian public for the use of vulgar language.
- Implement measures to curtail the station’s dangerous behavior and enhance its capacity for regulatory compliance.
Below is the full statement
FINAL CAUTION AGAINST INCITEFUL BROADCAST
Last week, your station carried an inciteful broadcast in which Captain Smart directly insulted the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) as “beasts.” He claimed the officers embezzle monies meant for soldiers on peacekeeping operations but offered no evidence to back his claims.
This was as dangerous as it was unprofessional.
You may recall that on December 8, 2022, we drew your attention to the use of your station to promote violence against the state and your management’s lack of capacity to address same. This was after we had written to your management on December 2, 2022.
It is of concern to us that the behaviour persists after we drew the board’s attention. We are now compelled to come to the board again as a way of giving the company a last opportunity for internal gatekeeping.
We ask that you put in measures to stop the dangerous behaviour of the station and improve the station’s capacity for regulatory compliance. We also ask the station to withdraw the insults and apologise to the CDS and his commanders. We further ask the station to apologise to the Ghanaian public for the use of vulgar language.
We expect you to undertake the above and present evidence of same to us before November 19, 2023 after which date you may hear further from the Commission.
Yours faithfully