The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially announced its withdrawal from all platforms operated by Media General, citing alleged bias, unprofessional conduct, and unfair treatment towards the party.
The decision, which was outlined in a statement signed by the NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, marks a significant development in the relationship between the party and the media organization.
According to the statement, the NPP has engaged in months of discussions with Media General’s management, production teams, and program hosts to address what it describes as “unprintable attacks” on its leading figures, biased selection of panelists, and disruptive hosting of political programs. However, the party claims that these concerns have not been resolved despite repeated assurances from Media General since 2023.
The statement highlighted a recent incident on a program hosted by Madam Keminni Amanor, where a regular guest allegedly made insulting remarks about former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The NPP criticized the host for failing to intervene or object to the comments, claiming she “merely laughed them off.” This incident, the party said, is emblematic of the perceived unprofessionalism and unfair treatment it faces on Media General platforms.
“The Key Points and Newday political shows religiously feature disruptive hosting and biased paneling,” the statement alleged. It claimed that these programs often feature a majority of panelists aligned with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against a single NPP representative, making it difficult for fair and balanced discussions to take place. The party said its calls for balanced representation have been ignored, leaving it no choice but to withdraw.
While expressing frustration over the lack of change, the NPP assured its members and the Ghanaian public that the decision would not impact its efforts to hold the government accountable. “We will fulfill our responsibilities as the largest opposition party in Ghana, God being our help,” the statement read.
The NPP also called on its members to comply with the directive to avoid Media General platforms until further notice, emphasizing the party’s commitment to ensuring fair treatment in the media space.
As of now, Media General has not issued an official response to the NPP’s statement or the allegations contained within it. The development has sparked conversations across political and media circles, with some questioning the implications of the withdrawal for public discourse and political accountability.
This marks the latest episode in the often-tense relationship between political parties and the media in Ghana, raising questions about the balance between media freedom and fair representation in political programming.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
