The Minority in Parliament has thrown its weight behind the Free Media Vanguard’s protest against the closure of some radio stations in the country by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The Free Media Vanguard hit the principal streets of Accra to protest against what it described as the NCA’s abuse of its powers and suppression of press freedom.
The protesters, clad in red and black attire, wielded placards with inscriptions such as ‘Enough is Enough’, ‘Akufo-Addo You Are a Threat to Free Speech’, ‘Stop Adding Tyranny to Hardship’ and ‘Leave Adeti Alone’ among others.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was spotted among the demonstrators, told Joy News’ Nancy Emefa that they joined the demonstration to make a strong point that they won’t accept the creeping tyranny and dictatorship surrounding how government had operated.
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He said free expression is a fundamental human right and therefore does not see the attack on a journalist as an attack on a single journalist but an attack that they all share.
“We do not see the attack on Manasseh Azure as an attack on a single journalist. It is an attack that we all share. A fundamental human right that we must all safeguard and protect,” he said.
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According to Mr Ablakwa, Ghana is a country that has always fought dictators and tyrants to ensure that the people’s fundamental human rights are respected, therefore they will continue to join such protest movements.
“We are going to continue to resist oppressors rule and we are going to ensure that our inalienable right of free expression is respected,” he noted.
He called on President Akufo-Addo to immediately show that he is a true democrat.
Two major pro-opposition stations, Radio Gold and Radio XYZ were the first set of stations closed down for breaching Electronic Communications Regulations.
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This has led to complaints that the NCA’s action was politically motivated ahead of the 2020 general election.
Former President John Mahama in a media interview recently said “definitely, there were political reasons behind the closure of those stations and so it is unfortunate.”
Source: Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
