Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) says Parliament has been unfair to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation boss, Mr. William Ampem-Darko. The Director General of the state broadcaster has been asked by Parliament to read an apology on all platforms of the station at his own cost for unsavoury remarks he made against members of the House. The MPs said his comments diminished the name and standing of the House. But Prof. Karikari told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, hosted by Israel Laryea on Thursday, that since Mr. Ampem-Darko did not make the comments on GBC platforms, asking him to apologise on GBC platforms is unjustifiable. He argued that asking Mr Ampem-Darko to pay for rendering the apologies is also unwarranted. According to him, since the GBC boss made the said derogatory remarks in Parliament, his apology to the MPs ought to have been accepted. Prof Karikari also contended that given the GBC Director General’s status, the approach adopted by Parliament amounted to reducing his standing unnecessarily. He suggested the MPs could ask him to put the apology in writing which could be circulated to media houses. The MFWA Executive Director stressed the need for members of the House to avoid actions that will pitch them against members of the society and create antagonism. He said it was important for the MPs not to unduly drag the issue because “if Parliament cannot be accommodating, then which institution can?” Prof Karikari intimated the House could refer the matter to the National Media Commission in order not to appear to be using its powers flagrantly. But MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankomah disagreed, saying Parliament didn’t need to refer the issue to the NMC because the House is not asking that any disciplinary action be taken against Mr. Ampem-Darko. He said members of the House were very accommodating and emphasised the need for the matter to be laid to rest. Ampem_Darko was enraged by comments by former Deputy Energy Minister, KT Hammond, who had called for the removal from office of the GBC boss after the latter caused a live television programme to be truncated. Panellists on GTV's Newspaper Review segment of the disputed programme, he said, was disproportionate against the ruling government. KT Hammond's criticism enraged Ampem-Darko, and he lashed out at the entire house. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com