The station is hopeful that after the tête-à-tête it will be given the green light to resume full operations.

Oyerepa FM halted its operations on Friday morning in compliance with an order from the Kumasi Traditional Council that the media house shuts down until further notice.

The Council’s Acting President, Baffuor Amankwatia VI, who is the Bantamahene, made the announcement when a team from Oyerepa FM and TV appeared before them to offer an apology over remarks made by Akwasi Addai ‘Odike’ against Manhyia on their network.

The Traditional Chiefs in the Ashanti Region came under fire from Odike, a guest on a political talk show on Oyerepa FM, for failing to combat illegal mining.

He accused the chiefs of aiding in galamsey since they have looked on unconcerned while forests and water bodies are destroyed.

The Kumasi Traditional Council was offended by this remark and declared it to be a form of rebellion against Asanteman, hence Odike was banished from stepping at Manhyia.

Baffuor Amankwatia VI, who addressed the delegation from Oyerepa FM and TV said, “you gave Odike the platform to say all that he said without caution. If you want us to accept your apology and show remorse, then announce to your listeners that you’ve erred and apologise.”

But General Manager of Oyerepa FM, Samtimer Otuo Acheampong, says the station will seek to atone for offending the council.

Meanwhile, the National Media Commission (NMC) says there is a growing trend of non-state actors attempting to use their own means to deal with media infractions contrary to law.

With the latest being Manhyia Palace’s sanction on Oyerepa FM, the Commission says it has handled at least 10 of such cases this year alone.

“Chiefs are using their traditional authority to address what they consider as media infractions. We’ve seen religious leaders do the same. Essentially what this tells you is that there is a certain privatised approach to addressing what people consider media infractions.

“What is needed to address this is an effective regulatory system that protects everybody and creates the space for the media to flourish.”

Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, says his outfit is dealing with the matter.

“Immediately the story broke, we’ve been in contact with Manhyia Palace, the radio station and as far as we are concerned we’ve made considerable progress in addressing this matter.”

Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, in an interview with the GNA, said as a constitutionally mandated Institution tasked with the responsibility of settling such cases, engaging the feuding parties is critical in addressing the impasse.

Mr.Sarpong said the Commission would only make any public pronouncement ”after all issues are ironed out and a solution found”.

The Kumasi Traditional Council on Thursday, August 25, 2022, asked managers of Kumasi-based, Oyerepa FM to temporarily suspend operations and apologise to the Manhyia Palace, for allowing the Founder of United Progressive Party, UPP, Akwasi Addai Odike to use their medium to “defame” Chiefs in Asanteman and the Asantehene.

Reports indicate that Oyerepa FM stopped operations on Friday, August 26, 2022, in compliance with the directives from the Council.

The directive comes barely a month after Ada-based FM station in the Greater Accra Region, Radio Ada, was banned by the Ada Traditional Council from covering this year’s Asafotufiami festival.

A 2022 World Press Freedom index released by Reporters without Borders, in May, ranked Ghana 60 among 180 countries, dropping 30 spots from the previous year.

It must, however, be stated emphatically that, Ghana isn’t a Monarchy. Chiefs do not have the power and right to order or suggest the shut down of radio stations. They are traditional leaders who are expected to be the custodians of our culture and traditions.

They must also play a role in our democratic practice as agents of unity and development, uniting all manner of people in their jurisdiction for development.

It is true that some have argued for the institution of chieftaincy to be scrapped because they feel it is anachronistic. It is true that some chiefs have been involved in needless protracted chieftaincy disputes that have led to the dissipation of scarce national resources needed for national development, diverted to maintain peace in their jurisdiction.

It is true that some chiefs have meddled in partisan politics and undermined their cherished role as agents of unit. It is true that some chiefs have involved themselves in galamsey and multiple sale of lands in a manner that has brought their credibility and relevance into question in our democratic dispensation.

It is also true that some chiefs are absentee chiefs who have abandoned their traditional roles into the hands of caretakers. Again it is true that some chiefs no longer perform many of their traditional rites that makes them real chiefs because, they’ve been converted by Christianity.

It must however be noted that, the tentacles of government in a developing country like Ghana, does not extend to every part of the country. Not all villages have access to the courts, police stations, etc.

It is the chiefs who administer justice and protect peace among the people in these remote areas. Also, not all chiefs have misconducted themselves. Some have been very decent, hardworking and maintained some political neutrality that has made them forces to reckon with, especially in times of national crisis that needs some background consultations and resolutions. Many people are not aware that but for the intervention of some chiefs behind the scenes, Ghana would have imploded after the 2008 elections.

Hence, even though some may have problems with the institution of chieftaincy, our traditional authorities can be helped to expand on the frontiers of their role that complements that of government in a manner that shores up their relevance in our current democratic dispensation.

In the current impasse between some Chiefs and a radio station, I believe that, regardless of the tone used, the chiefs only suggested the shutdown of Oyerepa FM. But the owners accepted the suggestion with alacrity, out of fear.

The media is the Fourth Estate of the Realm and Oyerepa FM could have respectfully ignored the suggestion and reported their fear of attacks to the police for protection. For not doing this, Oyerepa FM and it’s Management are not fit to be counted part of the Fourth Estate of the Realm for their demonstration of morbid fear. Any blame for the closure of the radio station should therefore be laid at the doorstep of the radio station owners for being weak.

The Chiefs could have helped our democracy by reporting the owners of the radio station to the NMC without “directing” or suggesting the close down of the radio station. Suggesting the closure of a radio station and acceptance of same by its owners, blatantly offends our laws and democratic tenets.

This said, generally, media’s penchant for hosting people who spit fire; sew discord and peddle propaganda, without thinking about the consequences of these to society, must also be called out.

Media outlets worth their salt, have criteria for inviting people they host on their programmes. Propaganda, controversy, and one’s ability to spit fire just to make the news, aren’t part of the requirement for hosting people on media shows in democracies that are advanced. It is always one’s knowledge and grasp of the issues to be discussed, that become the driving factor dictating who must be hosted.

Amateur media houses and even the aged ones must take note of this and learn to improve on their decisions with regards to who is selected to be hosted. This would save them needless stress, legal suits and embarrassment.

Finally, I reiterate the point that chiefs, regardless of their challenges, are still relevant and deserve our respect. But they cannot overstep the boundaries of their powers and role by arrogating to themselves powers that must be exercised only by the state and government. They must walk the tightrope of playing their decent traditional-modern roles while complementing the role of the state in order to maintain their relevance.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, says the directive by the Kumasi Traditional Council to the Management of Oyerepa FM to shut down amounts to abuse of power.

According to the seasoned lawyer, though the Council is clothed with powers to exercise authority within its jurisdiction, the move to halt the broadcast of the station is not grounded in law.

Contributing to discussions on JoyNews’ NewsFile on Saturday, the law professor explained that, customary laws are part of the legitimate sources of law, enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

He, however, noted that the implementation of such laws must be done with recourse to other relevant provisions of the Constitution, to ensure harmonisation between customary powers and the authority of the state.

“To actually arrogate to yourself, the power to basically overstep the constitutional limits because you have the considerable local support, I think really borders on abuse of power, and I think we should not encourage it”, he emphasised.

He also cautioned the media to be circumspect in their reportage, particularly the local FM stations.

Professor Prempeh indicated that though traditional authorities must not overstep their powers, there is the need for the media to also demonstrate professionalism and responsibility in its line of duty.

His comments were in connection with an order by the Kumasi Traditional Council on Thursday, directing Oyerepa FM to halt its operations.

The order was based on some comments Akwasi Addai ‘Odike’ made on the network.

Speaking as a guest on the station’s political talk show, ‘Odike’, criticised the traditional chiefs in the Ashanti Region, for failing to combat illegal mining.

In his submissions, he accused the Chiefs of aiding in galamsey and looking on unconcerned while forests and water bodies are destroyed.

He then threatened to lead the youth to stage a massive demonstration against Manhyia if the galamsey menace continues.

Subsequently, the Kumasi Traditional Council felt slighted by these remarks and declared it to be a form of rebellion against Asanteman; hence Odike was banished from stepping foot at Manhyia.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah, has also stated that chiefs do not have any legal authority to close down radio stations.

GJA in a statement indicated the meeting is to arrive at measures to address the ongoing rift between the traditional council and the radio station.

“Following the break of the news on the shutdown directed at Oyerepa FM by the Kumasi Traditional Council, the GJA quickly arranged to dispatch a delegation to Kumasi today, Friday, August 26, 2022, to meet with the traditional council and management of the radio station,” part of the statement, signed by the GJA Secretary, Kofi Yeboah, read.

The statement, however, indicated the delegation was advised to reschedule the mission to Monday, which is considered to be an appropriate time to meet the traditional council.

The Kumasi Traditional Council on Thursday, August 25 requested that Oyerepa FM stops broadcasting until further notice.

This was at a time a team from Oyerepa FM and TV arrived before the Traditional Council to offer an apology over remarks made by Akwasi Addai ‘Odike’ against Manhyia on their network.

Odike, who is the founder of the United Progressive Party, accused the chiefs of aiding in galamsey since they have looked on unconcerned while forests and water bodies are destroyed.

He threatened to lead the youth to stage a massive demonstration against Manhyia if the galamsey menace continues.

The Kumasi Traditional Council was offended by this remark and declared it to be a form of rebellion against Asanteman, hence banished Odike from stepping at Manhyia.

According to him, the purported closure of Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM by the Kumasi Traditional Council is not grounded in law.

Speaking in an interview with Benjamin Akakpo on JoyNews‘ AM Show on Friday, the MFWA boss condemned the said closure; describing it as ‘worrying development’.

In his view, the closure is also an attack on press freedom and an ‘act of censorship’ which must not be condoned.

“Chiefs will not have the power to say we’re shutting down a radio station. I don’t know where that legal powers will be drawn from. So certainly as I said, it is an exercise of traditional power knowing very well that with that fiat issued, the radio station cannot dare say we will go ahead in defiance of what has been said.

“Because the consequences could be dire in terms of potential physical violence that may be visited on them. And so I don’t know where the legal powers for that would be,” he said.

Mr Braimah’s comments followed an order by the Kumasi Traditional Council on Thursday, directing Oyerepa FM to halt its operations.

The order was based on some comments Akwasi Addai ‘Odike’ made on the network.

The Traditional Chiefs in the Ashanti Region came under fire from Odike, a guest on a political talk show on Oyerepa FM, for failing to combat illegal mining.

In his submissions, ‘Odike’ accused the Chiefs of aiding in galamsey and looking on unconcerned while forests and water bodies are destroyed.

He, therefore, threatened to lead the youth to stage a massive demonstration against Manhyia if the galamsey menace continues.

The Kumasi Traditional Council was offended by this remark and declared it to be a form of rebellion against Asanteman, hence Odike was banished from stepping foot at Manhyia.

Additionally, the Council asked Oyerepa FM to halt operations, for giving Odike the platform to make those remarks.

Checks on Friday morning showed that, the station had been shut down in compliance with the order. General Manager of Oyerepa FM, Sometymer Otuo Acheampong said the station will seek to atone for offending the Council.

The television wing of the media house, however, remains operational.

Meanwhile, ‘Odike’ whose comments triggered the shutdown has revealed that he has gone into hiding. He said he will only apologise if the Traditional Council rolls back its decision to banish him from the Manhyia palace.