Multimedia apologises to NPP over "minimum standard" Newsfile comment
The Multimedia Media Group has apologised to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), over comments by host of the Newsfile programme, that two representatives the political party sent for Saturday’s programme did not meet the minimum required standards for the show.
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According to the media organization, which owns Joy FM and Joy News, the comments by host of the popular news analysis programme, Mr Samson Lardy Anyenini, on the reasons for rejecting the representatives was not intended to denigrate their person.
In a statement, the media organization explained that the comment by the host seemed to have hurt many people and generated a lot of controversy.
It said the decision on who should appear on any of the shows of the media organisation rests entirely with the editorial team and they stand by it.
However, it said the station apologises unreservedly for the use of the words by the host of the show that suggested that the two gentlemen were not up to the standard.
On Saturday, the production team of Newsfile rejected Henry Nana Boakye and Eric Twum from the ruling NPP as representatives on the programme, televised via Joy News and on radio on Joy FM.
Nana Boakye commonly referred to as Nana B is a Deputy Executive Director at the National Service Scheme whilst Mr Twum is a Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority. They are both members of the NPP national communications team.
The topics for discussion on the programme were the 100 days in office of President Akufo-Addo, galamsey and former president John Mahama's recent meeting with his appointees, but the two representatives from the NPP were turned away with the explanation that they don't meet the minimum standard of discussants on that show.
Mr Eric Twum was first presented and he was rejected as not being a government official and then Nana Boakye, who was sent as a replacement was also rejected.
Explaining, the host of the show, Mr Samson Lardy Anyenini said his information was that the Minister was going to represent government on the show.
“I’m sure the first question many of you will start asking is 'you mentioned Dr Ayine, so where is an NPP representative.' My information from the production team is that the NPP supplied a candidate that the production felt does not meet the standard, or satisfy their need for this platform, so we do not have a representative for the NPP as yet.”
“There are times that you may have witnessed also that representatives of the NDC have been brought here and we’ve driven them away because they did not meet the production standards and criteria,” Mr Anyenini explained on the show.
The other panelists on Saturday’s programme were Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper who is a regular panelist, Dr Dominic Ayine, former deputy minister of justice and attorney general and Dr Eric Oduro Osae, Dean of Studies at the Institute of Local Government Studies.
The refusal of the two gentlemen on the show generated a discussion on social media with varied opinions on what the minimum standards of discussants should be.
The NPP subsequently demanded for an official apology from the media organization and also the host of the programme.
In a statement issued by the acting General Secretary, the party said “the NPP after submitting names for representation on Saturday 15th April, 2017 edition of Newsfile, was surprised to hear on the live show our representatives “were not up to the standard of the show”. The 'controversial' pronouncement was made by the Host.
“The party finds this statement very unfortunate. We have worked hand in hand with your organization at different levels and find this not only unnecessary but a display of high handedness in a simple matter that could have been resolved through dialogue and respect. The party demands an immediate and an unqualified apology from Multimedia and from Samson Anyenini.”
Related: Why Joy FM turned away NPP's Nana B and Eric Twum from Newsfile
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