The National Media Commission says it did all within its mandate to resolve the conflict between the Management of Radio Ada and the Ada Traditional Council speedily.

The Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, George Sarpong said immediately the incident happened, officers were dispatched to Ada to talk to the Management of the radio station and members of the Traditional Council.

Mr. Sarpong said this in an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 27, 2022.

He noted, however, that the matter has lingered on because, “at the time we were concluding our investigations, we observed that there were inconsistencies. Due to these inconsistencies, we asked Radio Ada to submit a formal report detailing their understanding of the issue.”

“The matter I think happened on January 13 or thereabout. From that time we never received a report from the station, on February 18, the Ghana Community Radio Network held a programme  … I took the opportunity of the meeting. At this time, the matter had then happened more than a month and we still hadn’t received a report from the Radio Station… it took two or three months before the radio station submitted a report to us.,“ Mr. Sarpong explained.

It would be recalled that a group of thugs numbering about 12 on January 13, 2022, stormed the premises of the community radio station, assaulted two of its journalists and vandalised equipment.

The Police subsequently arrested Noah Dameh, the Deputy Station Co-ordinator over false publication charges.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2DHHkDshDM

The charges related to a Facebook post by the journalist on May 8, 2022, and a subsequent complaint by ElectroChem Ghana Limited, the company granted a controversial concession to mine salt in Ada.

According to Mr. Sarpong, Radio Ada delayed in submitting the report therefore a delay in resolving the issue cannot be blamed on NMC.

“We think that we did everything that was necessary to afford a very quick resolution to the matter,” he stated.

Consequently, on August 1, 2022, the Ada Traditional Council banned Radio Ada from covering the 2022 Asafotufiami Festival.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the Management of Radio Ada after the latter had sought clarification on why they were not included in the list of media houses invited to cover the event.

“The Traditional Council at a meeting held on 1st August, 2022, discussed your letter and decided to invite your station to the Traditional Council for an extensive discussion after the festival.

“In the meantime, I am directed to inform you that the Traditional Council has deemed it necessary to place the following restrictions on Radio Ada during this year’s Asafotufiami festival” the letter signed by the Chairman of the Asafotufiami Festival Planning Committee, Nene Agudey Obichere III, said.

The letter mentioned three restrictions as follows:

1. Radio Ada will not be allowed to mount a stage at Ada Asafotufiami Park.
2. Neneme [chiefs] will not grant interviews to journalists from Radio Ada.
3. Noah Dameh, Serwah Warri and Amanor Dzeagu who happen to be hosts of programs with unrefined language towards Neneme are not to be seen at the park in Radio Ada paraphernalia.

The letter further urged Radio Ada to respect the above restrictions to avoid embarrassment.