The National Media Commission and the National Communications Authority, as part of their collaboration to improve the quality of broadcasting in Ghana project, have gathered about 318 incidents on television making up 224 money-doubling incidents on 15 television stations.
The collaboration project recently launched was to identify and address deficits in broadcast content and also by using a community standards approach, as the project democratizes the involvement of citizens by highlighting their voice in regulatory interventions.
In order to get the NMC and NCA informed, citizens were allowed to call a toll-free number 0800-419-666, to make their voices heard on the performance of broadcasting stations especially concerning content they consider unacceptable by the standards of media ethics, Ghanaian culture, traditions, and norms.
However, in a half month, the public had reported about 318 incidents on television made up of 224 money-doubling incidents; 83 money rituals; 24 fake lotteries; 18 occultic practices 13 incidents of pornography.
In a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of NMC, George Sarpong, he noted that the rest of the complaints were related to fake loan schemes and people seeking to use fraudulent means to extract money from others.
According to him many of the complaints were against the following stations: Asomafo TV (19), Adwenpa TV (19), Eagle TV (18), Best TV (16), Energy TV (16), Diamond TV (15), X TV (15), Asomdwie TV (14), Funny TV (14), Advice TV (14), Big TV (11), Passion TV (11), Nkabom TV (11), Seekers TV (10) and Elephant TV (10).
‘’In addition to the above complaints from citizens, the Commission’s own professional assessment revealed two dangerous broadcasts with implications for national cohesion that demanded immediate regulatory intervention’’.
The NMC noted that’’ While one of them involving Power FM has been resolved, the other, involving Onua TV/Radio remains outstanding. The Commission will announce its decision on that matter soon. We shall also brief the public on our decision on the TV stations listed above’’.
‘’We commend the leadership and staff of the National Communications Authority for their unwavering cooperation in this project. It is their productive investment that has made this possible. We also commend the Ghana Journalists Association; the Ghana Independent Broadcasters’ Association and civil society especially the Media Foundation for West Africa for their support’’.
‘’Finally, we commend the active citizens who demonstrated their commitment to quality broadcasting by taking time to make the recorded complaints. We encourage all citizens to join hands in uplifting the quality of broadcasting in Ghana. For the stations listed above, we hereby serve them notice to cease and desist from those activities otherwise there will be severe consequences’’ the statement added.
-BY Daniel Bampoe