The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, disagrees with an order to temporarily shut down Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM and TV over comments made by the founder of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addai Odike on the platform.
Mr Braimah believes that the order forms part of an endeavour to suppress the independence of the media house.
“It is a worrying development, and it is an act of censorship being imposed by the traditional authorities on the radio station. In other words, when the radio station or media organisation in that jurisdiction errs, traditional authorities will say ‘we have the power and authority to shut you down,” he argued.
At a Kumasi Traditional Council meeting on Thursday, 25 August 2022, the managers of Oyerepa FM/TV, were asked to temporarily suspend operations and apologise to the Manhyia Palace, for allowing Mr Odike to use its medium to “defame” chiefs in Asanteman and the Asantehene.
Led by its management, officials from the radio station had gone before the Kumasi Traditional Council to apologise for the impasse.
The meeting by the Kumasi Traditional Council was presided over by the Bantamahene, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia VI.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, was not in town, as he had travelled outside the country.
Among the conditions set by the Kumasi Traditional Council in relation to the resolution of the issue is for the media house to temporarily suspend operations and properly appear before it with an apology because Mr Odike accused chiefs in the region of supporting illegal mining.
The suspension of operations beginning Friday, 26 August 2022, coupled with an announcement of why the media house was suspending operations, was to show remorse, while the traditional council considers to accept the apology.
At the meeting, the traditional leaders added that the suspension of operations was to show good faith until further notice, while it works on the apology.
According to the Bantamahene, the radio station could have stopped Odike if they really wanted to, but rather allowed him to go on and vilify the chiefs and incite the youth to demonstrate against them.
Banishment
Following the unfavourable comments, the chiefs from the Kumasi Traditional Council also performed a ritual where they slaughtered a ram and declared Odike a persona non grata at Manhyia.
A few days after the rituals, the regional office of the party was attacked by unknown gunmen who fired into the office and smashed vehicles belonging to Odike.
Odike had alleged that those involved in the attack were from the Manhyia Palace but has vowed not to apologise for the comments he made on the radio programme.
No arrest has been made yet, although the police are investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, Odike has gone into hiding for fear of the safety of his life.