This Isn't The First Time A Political Party Has Boycotted A Radio Station - NPP Communicator

Former aide to NPP Flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo, Abu Jinapor has justified the party's boycott of some political programmes on Okay andNeat FM. Speaking on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo', Abu Jinapor told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that "it is within the right of the party to take the decision that it has taken" and held strongly that the NPP action was long overdue. The New Patriotic Party, in a statement signed by the Deputy Communications Director Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, indicated that the party has decided to boycott every political programme on both stations owned by the Despite Group of Companies. "...programs on the two stations which are hosted by Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie and Adakabre Frimpong Manso respectively have in recent months developed a format to consistently discuss all matters of the NPP with a negative slant. These programs have also concentrated on encouraging submissions which denigrate and insult the Party and its Flagbearer," a portion of the statement read. Addressing the issue on 'kokrokoo', Abu Jinapor noted that the party has been expressing their grievances over the conduct of the two stations regarding matters about the NPP and its flagbearer but to no avail. According to him, hosts of the political programmes on both stations seem to have made it their job to abase and discredit Nana Addo and the party for no apparent reason. He added that it's not a novelty in Ghana's politics for a political party like the New Patriotic Party to boycott a station, citing the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) as also having to take similar actions against other media stations. "This is not the first time that a political party has boycotted a particular station or programme of a station. We were all in this country and witnessed the NDC boycott of the entire Multimedia group. They have boycotted several talk shows and media houses. In fact, at a point in time, the Ministry of Information came out that it wants to ban Multimedia group from covering any official programs of the government. Of course that one, we thought and I still hold the same view that they couldn’t have done that. We condemned it but for a political party to say it has boycotted an FM station, this is not the first time.” He however urged the Communications Directorate of the NPP and management of the stations to iron out their differences. “It will help the relationship between NPP and Peace FM, Okay FM and if you want the media at large but the grievance has to be addressed.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi /Peacefmonline.com/Ghana