Call off Joy FM, JoyNews boycott – Omane Boamah tells gov’t

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The government has been urged to call off its boycott of Joy FM and JoyNews TV, following disagreements between it and the media outlets.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosi Sen, Wednesday, a Former Communications Minister under the John Mahama-Administration, Dr Omane Boamah, who made the call, believes such a decision although not formally communicated, is unproductive, thus, a useless venture.

“Government’s decision to boycott Joy FM and JoyNews is useless and won’t benefit them. NPP is an intolerant group. It is manhandling the media under Akufo-Addo. I urge Kojo Oppong Nkrumah as well the President to immediately call off the boycott because it’s not productive,” he said.

JoyNews on March 7, showed a documentary, ‘Militia in the Heart of the Nation’ which exposed an unlicensed security company and a militia group, De-Eye, conducting training at the Christianborg Castle, the former seat of government.

The 22-minute documentary showed a pro-New Patriotic Party militia group training within the facility.

Government through Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, filed a formal complaint at the National Media Commission (NMC) on March 13, insisting JoyNews was bad-mouthing its administration in its attempt to clamp down on the activities of party militias that have seen government officials attacked, public offices closed down and a by-election turned violent.

Government, since the broadcast of the documentary which was produced by award-winning JoyNews undercover journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has refused to send representatives to participate in discussions on programmes on Joy FM and JoyNews TV.

But, Dr Boamah could not fathom why the government filed a formal complaint at the NMC.

“President Akufo-Addo and Mr Oppong Nkrumah, in fact, what particular outcome are you seeking taking the issue to the NMC?” he asked.

To him, government’s posture shows how it disregards the media, adding that under their regime, no media house was boycotted under his tenure as Communications Minister.

By: adomonline.com