The National Media Commission (NMC) has ruled on a complaint filed by Adamus Resources Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Angela List, against online portal ModernGhana.com and Accra-based Class FM over what the company described as misleading and damaging publications.
At a settlement meeting held on September 3, 2025, the NMC’s Complaints Settlement Committee facilitated a constructive and cordial session between the parties.
During the meeting, both ModernGhana.com and Class FM admitted they failed to verify or cross-check information about Ms. List before publishing their stories. ModernGhana noted that part of its publication was sourced from the Ghana News Agency, while Class FM offered no justification for the lapse. Both outlets confirmed that the contested stories were removed following intervention by representatives of the complainants.
After reviewing the matter, the NMC concluded that the outlets violated Articles 4 and 5 of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics, which require journalists to verify information before publication. The Commission also noted that although Adamus Resources prepared a rejoinder, it was not directly served on the respondents, meaning they were not obligated to publish it.
In its ruling, the NMC directed ModernGhana.com and Class FM to retract all unverified publications concerning the complainants and to issue formal apologies. The retractions and apologies must receive the same prominence as the original stories and be completed within seven days.
The Commission urged all parties to maintain the cordiality achieved during the settlement and emphasized the importance of ethical journalism and respectful corporate-media engagement.
Read the statement below:
To All Editors November 27, 2025
NATIONAL MEDIA COMMISSION ISSUES RULING ON COMPLAINT AGAINST MODERNGHANA.COM AND CLASS FM
The National Media Commission (NMC) has issued its determination on a complaint filed by Adamus Resources Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Angela List, against the online portal ModernGhana.com and Accra-based Class FM. The complaint concerned publications about Ms. List which the Complainants described as misleading and damaging.
On Wednesday, 3 September 2025, the NMC’s Complaints Settlement Committee held a settlement meeting with all parties present. The engagement was constructive and cordial.
Admissions by Respondents
- Representatives of ModernGhana.com acknowledged that they did not contact the Complainants to verify or cross-check the stories prior to publication. They noted that one of the stories originated from the Ghana News Agency, which they had relied on as a credible source.
- Class FM similarly admitted that it failed to verify or cross-check the information before publication and offered no justification for this breach of journalistic standards.
Both Respondents confirmed that, following intervention by a representative of the Complainants, the contested stories were subsequently removed. The Complainants emphasised the significant reputational harm arising from the publications, including concerns raised by their international partners. They also noted that although they prepared a rejoinder for media circulation, it was not directly served on the Respondents.
Commission’s Conclusions
After reviewing the facts, the Commission concluded that:
- The Respondents breached fundamental journalistic ethics by failing to verify information before publication, contrary to Articles 4 and 5 of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics, 2017.
- Although the Respondents removed the initial stories when prompted, they continued to publish related content thereafter.
- The Complainants exercised their constitutional right to issue a rejoinder under Article 162(6) of the 1992 Constitution; however, because the rejoinder was not served on the Respondents, they were under no obligation to publish it.
Commission’s Ruling
The Commission accordingly directs as follows:
- ModernGhana.com and Class FM must retract and/or remove all publications concerning the Complainants that were issued without verification. Any retraction must receive the same prominence as the original publication.
- Both media outlets must publish a formal apology to the Complainants.
- All retractions, removals, and apologies must be completed within seven (7) days of this press release.
The Commission encourages all parties to sustain the cordial atmosphere established during the settlement meeting, underscoring that mutual respect and adherence to ethical standards remain essential to strengthening both media practice and corporate engagement in Ghana.
GEORGE SARPONG
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
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