News:
December 1, 2010
The NDC Member of Parliament for La- Dadekotopon, Nii Amasa Namoale, has accused the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) Kabral Blay- Amihere of playing politics with the Commission, which is required by law to be neutral.
According to the MP, the Chairman’s recent public criticism of the Police and the Serious Fraud Office, now known as the Economic and Organized Crime Unit, is most unfortunate and condemnable.
Kabral Blay- Amihere at an event to mark the first anniversary of the 6th commission in Accra has lashed out at the Police and the Economic and Organized Crime Unit for engaging in acts that impinge on press freedom.
He accused the Police of ‘miraculously resurrecting an old law- causing fear and panic to cow the citizenry,’’ and the Economic and Organized Crime Unit of harassing and intimidating key personnel of the media.
Kabral Blay- Amihere noted that the doings of the two states institutions were clearly in disregard to the public pledge of the President not to do anything to muzzle the press.
However, contributing to a discussion on e.TV Ghana’s morning show today, Hon. Nii Amasa Namoale, stated that with the vast experience that Mr Blay- Amihere has gathered, he must rather be seen to be building and strengthening an august body such as the National Media Commission.
He noted that Mr Blay-Amihere making such a comment is problematic, as he is supposed to be a neutral judge in his position as the Chairman of the National Media Commission.
“This man has once been an Ambassador and he should know what kind of statements he puts out, if he has any problem with any law the reasonable action to take is to proceed to court, no matter how old the law is, once it remains on the statutes book, it makes that law operational’’ he said.
Hon. Nii Amasa Namoale is added that Kabral can also encourage cabinet to begin a process to expunge that law, if it will affect press freedom.
Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh