Media General Operators of Onua TV and Onua FM has strongly defended comment made by a host of Onua Makye morning show on Onua TV/Onua FM Blessed Godsbrain Smart alias Captain Smart stating that it has no element that threatened security and
At about 11:00am on Thursday, December 2, 2021, Captain Smart received officers from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) in his home who invited him to their office, to which he obliged. He was subsequently taken to the Nima Police station in Accra for interrogation.
At the Nima Police Station, Smart was cautioned on the “offense of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace as provided under section 207 of the Criminal Act, 1960 (Act 29).” He provided a caution statement and then was granted bail.
According to the Police, the arrest of Captain Smart was due to some unsavory pronouncements he was alleged to have made that, according to them, hinged on the peace and security of the country.
Captain Smart was released Thursday night after Lawyers of Media General secured bail for him.
However, Media General believes that the statement made by Captain Smart should not be one that should be interpreted in the manner that the Police did and also to add that “we are increasingly concerned about the new trend of the arrest of journalists and media practitioners. This recent trend of picking journalists has affected journalists who work with Media General who are simply doing their work and, like every Ghanaian, should be protected by the Constitution”.
According to the media conglomerate “, today’s arrest and detention of Captain Smart is by no means an isolated incident, but just one more egregious example of the intolerance increasingly creeping into the Ghanaian society. We are convinced that a careful review of the entire statement made by Captain Smart would reveal that it did not amount to threats to the peace and or stability of the country as claimed by the Ghana Police “.
The Media General Group, therefore, urges the Ghana Police Service and the IGP to exercise restraint in their dealings with journalists legitimately doing their work and dismiss these broad charges so that press freedom would be protected.
“We at Media General shall continue to preach and exercise responsible journalism. However, we would continue to empower our journalists and broadcasters to be fearless, honest, and forthright in their professional outlook always” The statement concluded.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
