AAD: Kabral Blay-Amihere Must Immediately Resign

The Alliance for the Advancement of Democracy (AAD) wishes to categorically condemn the unbecoming and the morally reprehensible relationship between the chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere and the former President- John Agyekum Kufuor since such relationships has the propensity to undermine the spirit of neutrality and objectivity that must characterize his office and stature.

AAD has noted with suspicion and outrageous the involvement of Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere in the recent trip of former President- John Agyekum Kufuor to Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia respectively. We have found it imperative to probe into his involvement as well as the capacity in which he partook in the trip. At a time that the partisanship of the media had become a real threat to democracy, we view his historical affiliation to the former President as a bad testimony of his stature and responsibilities.

Considering the doubt and speculation which greeted his election into office, we think his current conduct doesn’t only fuel the speculation that he is bias to the New Patriotic Party but actually confirms it beyond every reasonable doubt.

Given that the National Media Commission is enjoined by Article 167 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana to insulate itself from government control, exhibit neutrality and to maintain a high sense of journalistic standards; we are convinced that his continuous stay in office will grossly undermine such noble virtues that must be jealously guarded by people whose affiliations and deeds shall not be compromised, doubted and challenged by all who believe that the principles of fair access, equal access, fair coverage and unbiased reportage must apply in a non-discriminatory manner in the discharge of the work of the media and its bodies so as to enhance and entrench Ghana’s young democracy.

The Alliance for the Advancement of Democracy (AAD) believes that the Chairman of the NMC is like a referee in a football match and any referee who aligns himself with one team of the divide is unfit to play his official role.

We are therefore calling on Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere to honourably resign so as to protect his own integrity and the sanctity as well as the sovereignty that goes with his office. His continuous stay in office could fuel and fan rancor and friction amongst the National Media Commission, the Government and the citizenry and this could be very dangerous for our fragile democracy.

Thank you!!!

Long Live Ghana, Long Live Democracy, Long Live AAD-Ghana!!!

Yours faithfully,

Justice Kutsienyo

(Spokesperson, AAD-Ghana)

(0242-385-006)