Angela List
The National Media Commission (NMC), has directed online news portal, Modern Ghana and Accra-based Class FM to apologise and retract publications described as misleading and damaging against Adamus Resources Limited and its Chief Executive, Ms. Angela List.
A statement issued and signed by the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, George Sarpong, said representatives of ModernGhana.com acknowledged that they erred for failing to contact the complainants to verify the information prior to publication.
It said Class FM similarly admitted that it failed to verify the information before publication, and offered no justification for this breach of journalistic standards.
According to the Commission, though the respondents mentioned that the said publications were subsequently removed from their portals, the complainants emphasised the significant reputational harm arising from the publications, including concerns raised by their international partners.
It stated 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, after reviewing the facts of the case.
It also stated among other things that although the respondents removed the initial stories when prompted, they continued to publish related content thereafter.
The Commission therefore ruled that “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,” parts of the statement read.
It further encouraged all parties to sustain the cordial atmosphere established during the settlement meeting, emphasising that mutual respect and adherence to ethical standards remain essential to strengthening both media practice and corporate engagement in Ghana.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah