The National Media Commission (NMC) Chairman, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, has declared that he will not retract his position regarding the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) decision to ban two Members of Parliament (MPs).
The GJA’s directive has drawn public criticism from Mr. Ayeboafo, who called it “dysfunctional and unproductive” for the good of the public. He recommends taking legal action to stop such impunity for crimes against journalists.
Some members of the public have criticized his position. For example, in an interview with David Kwaku Sakyi on Breakfast Daily, Mensah Thompson, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), expressed disappointment with Ayeboafo’s remarks.
Ayeboafo was depicted by Mr. Thompson as a failed journalist who is unaware of the attacks against his former colleagues.
However, Mr. Ayeboafo stated that he, like others, has the right to express his opinions in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM. He added that he wouldn’t harbor resentment toward anyone for their viewpoints on the subject.
Mr. Ayeboafo went on to say that instead of ordering a blackout, the media community should look into other ways to demand justice if the relevant institutions had not responded to earlier attacks.
“I will not apologize to anyone for having that opinion because it is my own, and I will not take offense if someone has a different opinion. My stance, which I also put forth in my presentation, is that we shouldn’t be discouraged just because something existed and that there were obstacles in our path. From now on, we demand justice, and we must cooperate to make sure those obstacles are eliminated,” he stated.
