The Class Media Group, operators of Accra FM, has expressed worry over the arrest and detention of one of its journalists, Kwabena Bobie Ansah.
The presenter was arrested on Thursday night at 10:00pm right after his political talk show ended, by persons purported to be National Security operatives.
Mr Ansah is currently being prosecuted for alleged publication of false news and offensive conduct.
The Media Group, in a statement issued on February 11, said it received a letter from the National Media Commission (NMC) on February 3 following a petition by the Rebecca Foundation.
The petition was in regards to some pronouncements made against the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr Ansah on Accra FM on January 11, 2022.
Management of the station said they have since been cooperating with the NMC and Mr Ansah on the matter.
The Group has, thus, noted with serious concerns, the involvement of the Police in the matter.
“We, therefore, find it gravely concerning that the Police Service have gotten involved in a matter that was being duly handled by the NMC, the Constitutional body mandated to address concerns of this nature. Indeed, the actions of the Ghana Police Service on this matter and in recent times, regarding journalists and media practitioners in general, leave much to be desired,” the group stated.
According to the group, “the emerging trend where the Ghana Police Service are readily unleashed on journalists for discharging their work is a blot on our fledgling democracy and status as a bastion of media freedom in West Africa and Africa as a whole.”
The group, however, noted that it will cooperate with the Police to ensure resolution of the matter.
Below is the full statement: