NDC condemns violent attack on the studios of UTV

The studios of UTV witnessed an unpleasant disruption of its primetime weekly live broadcast entertainment analysis program, some group of men believed to be affiliated with the NPP stormed the studios of UTV during its live production abruptly halting the show a few minutes into the programme.

Their action comes on the back of a letter directed to the management of UTV regarding program reform. Kwame A Plus, a regular pundit had in a previous episode criticised the letter received and its propriety describing it as useless and tearing it apart.

The agitated individuals stormed the studio and sought to confront A Plus who shared a divergent view of the content of the letter.

These incident has raised many questions about the freedom of the press and media reportage in the country.

In a letter by the National Communication Officer of the party, the NDC vehemently rebuked the unfortunate incident criticizing the NPP for fuelling such an agenda.

"The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has learned with utter disgust, a dastardly attack that was visited on the studios of United Television (UTV), last night."

"The NDC condemns this shameful act in no uncertain terms, as there can be no place for such uncivilized and beastly conduct in a democracy. Yesterday's event sets Ghana’s democracy back and further erodes our fast-dwindling press freedom fortunes as a country. We in the NDC are deeply worried about the level of intolerance of dissenting views in Ghana today under the tyrannical Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government."

Read the full statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT For Immediate Release: 8th October, 2023.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has learned with utter disgust, a dastardly attack that was visited on the studios of United Television (UTV), last night. While the station's prime-time entertainment show, 'United Showbiz' was ongoing, a group of uncivilized hooligans belonging to the ruling New Patriotic Party stormed the studios of UTV, disrupted the live program, and proceeded to threaten to assault the host and her guests.

It later emerged that these thugs were led by the Klottey Korle Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic, under the orders of Ernest Owusu Bempah, a Deputy Director of Communications and other leading figures of the ruling party.

The NDC condemns this shameful act in no uncertain terms, as there can be no place for such uncivilized and beastly conduct in a democracy. Yesterday's event sets Ghana’s democracy back and further erodes our fast-dwindling press freedom fortunes as a country. We in the NDC are deeply worried about the level of intolerance of dissenting views in Ghana today under the tyrannical Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.

We completely condemn the extent to which the ruling NPP is determined to institutionalize a culture of silence. The senseless attack we witnessed yesterday was goaded by the recent antagonistic posturing of high-ups in government and the NPP towards UTV and its flagship 'United Showbiz' program.

It is instructive that this attack on UTV was preceded by a letter from the New Patriotic Party's National Secretariat a few days ago, which sought to brazenly impose an editorial policy on the station. This was followed by threats by leading figures of the NPP to ensure the illegal closure of the station. Indeed, some of the NPP hooligans have been captured on video saying that they attacked the studios of UTV to defend and protect the President, the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, and the NPP from legitimate criticism by some members of the panel.

Yesterday's event adds to the litany of attacks that goons associated with the NPP have visited on people performing their lawful duties, including a pregnant judge sitting in open court in Kumasi some time back. The latest incident is yet another clearest evidence of how intolerant, violent, and tyrannical this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government has become.

We call on the Ghana Journalists Association and other vanguards of free speech, civil society as well as traditional and moral society to speak out before it is too late. Our press freedom and democratic credentials are under serious attack, and to remain silent in these times is to encourage the triumph of evil.

We further call on the Ghana Police Service to expeditiously investigate this incident and ensure that all the culprits are duly prosecuted by the law. The NDC shall be monitoring every development on this important matter and will not accept anything short of justice.

SIGNED. SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ.

(National Communication Officer).