The police have arrested at least 16 individuals identifying with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for invading the studios of Accra-based UTV, belonging to the Despite Media Group on October 7, 2023.
The alleged NPP supporters stormed the studio of United Showbiz to put a halt to the program which they believe is always against their party.
Numbering over 20, the angered youth delayed the airing of the popular show – United Showbiz – saying A Plus, real name Kwame Obeng Asare, who is a regular pundit on the show, has shown gross disrespect to the NPP by tearing apart on set a letter from the party raising concerns about the show.
A Plus, in reaction, said the letter was against the independence of the media and went on to rip his copy of the letter saying: “This letter is revolting because we have received calls from people threatening to collapse UTV United Showbiz,” reports Peacefmonline.com.
The leader of the group that invaded the studio said they want the popular highlife singer, A Plus, to apologise for his actions on air.
The Director of Communications for the NPP Richard Ahiagbah addressing on the issue on UTV said the party has no hands in the attack by the alleged NPP supporters in the UTV studio.
He therefore called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate the matter to know the people who asked the young guys to undertake such an unlawful action.
Meanwhile, the National Media Commission (NMC) has condemned the studio invasion, calling on political actors to resort to the right channels to address their grievances.
“The commission is concerned about the increasing use of violence as the preferred method for addressing grievances against the media and journalists. Perpetrators of such crimes must realise that violence does not produce better journalism,” the NMC said in a statement issued on Sunday 8 October 2023.
“This is why the constitution provides anyone who feels aggrieved by the work of the media the opportunity to seek redress through the complaint settlement mechanism of the National Media Commission.
“As we approach the electioneering process for Ghana 2024, it is important for political actors and all Ghanaians to learn that the Ghana we envisage would not be built on the path of violent attacks on journalists,” the executive secretary of the NMC George Sarpong added.