Fire Service Personnel numbering 23 from West Akim Municipal Office led by four Senior Officers stormed Nkonim FM in Asamankese of the Eastern Region and verbally attacked staff, Resource person on Morning show and the Radio station manager over alleged misinformation from the Radio station.
Four of the senior officers, including F.M Ampofo Lotus, Godwin Myers who were in their uniform failed to follow protocol at the Radio station and forcibly entered the radio station’s studio to attack the morning show (Mmasem Nie) Host, Eric Gagba and his guest,Albert Obiri -Yeboah, accusing them of misinformation over recent fire outbreak in Asamankese.
Other Junior Officers who were in their light Blue Uniform numbering about 15 took over the radio station’s entrance and reception and took four staff on duty hostage and warned them not to take any video or picture,hence,they will deal with them accordingly.
The Senior officers, who forcibly entered the studio also tried to take the program Host and the guest out and deal with them for allegedly misleading the public over their work.
According to Mensah Atakora,the station’s Human Resource Manager and Political show Host, the fire officers arrived around 9:28am on Wednesday morning while there was live program hosted by Eric Gagba and his guest was one Chairman Obiri -Yeboah.
He said the officers disrespected his orders for them to write their names in Visitors book and lodge their complaints and they forcibly entered the studio while others surrounded the entrance and the reception and warned them not to take any video or picture hence,they will deal with them.
He said the officers at the reception led by one without uniform and other one identified as Bawa Solomon used threat messages to provoke staff of Nkonim FM but he(Atakora )controlled his staff around to avoid any clash and violence and attempted to call his manager and the police but it proved futile because the men took over the media house and warned them not to touch their mobile phones.
“They used words like Foolish people! You have taken ¢100 from people to come and say negative things about fire service upon our sacrifices. Animals! Were you people train to work here? Where did you attend school to become journalists? Hollow minded people. We will show you something if you try us. If you know the law,why are you here inciting the public to beat us? You think you have the microphones so you say foolish things about us. Bring that your foolish people inside the studio out now,we will jail him for three months “.
“The Senior officers who unlawfully entered the studio were also forcing to bring the Host and the guest out but the producers,Regina Korantemaa and Samuel Silivi resisted until the Station Manager arrived.”
Mr. Atakora said fortunately, their manager, Samuel Asiedu arrived and before he was entering the reception, six of the officers in uniform and one other without uniform approached the manager and hold his neck and threatened to beat him for saying why they(fire men) came to end their morning show.
He said he managed at the time his manager arrived and called the Asamankese Police Patrol Team and they quickly stormed the radio station to protect staff.
According to Mr. Atakora, the fire officers also attempted to beat one Samuel Okoh Agyemang who also came to the Radio station to see what was going on.
The issue is before the Municipal Security Council currently.
Nkonim FM is part of Theovision Radio Network which seek to use the media to transform lives while remaining competitive and relevant and was established in January 2010 to promote the Gospel, educate the people and help in the overall development of the communities in which it operates and support sustainable development programs.
For the past 15 years in operation,the station has been giving free air time for public Departments and Agencies in the West Akim Municipality which includes the Fire Service to educate the public on their activities and promote Policies.
The station has pursued a well detailed plan that promotes Christian-based music and messages whilst championing a strong social agenda to bring out issues about sanitation, security, the environment, primary health care, family values, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse in the youth.
Journalists encounter significant challenges in seeking and disseminating information on contemporary issues, such as supply-chains problems, climate migration, extractive industries, illegal mining, pollution, poaching, deforestation and other issues of public concern.
Journalists’ safety has seriously deteriorated in recent years despite Freedom of the press guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution and the repeal of the criminal libel and seditious laws (Amendment Bill) Act 2001).
Overall, Ghana ranked 62 out of 180 countries with a score of 65.9/100. Its press freedom landscape was classified as problematic.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
