Castle Militia: My friend Manasseh ignored my advise – Oppong-Nkrumah

Information Minister, Hon. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has stated that his friend Manasseh Azuri Awuni was impervious to his advice prior to airing of a documentary dubbed “Militia in the heart of the Nation.”

He stated that knowing the innocence of the government in the documentary aired by Joy FM, he earlier persuaded the lead investigator of the documentary to drop it.

“I spoke to him on phone and said No… De work you de do be interesting [sic]. If you go out there and say you have found a militia operating in a security zone you have to prove it”, he revealed.

According to the former broadcaster who appeared on Newfile during panel discussion MyNewsGh.com last Saturday, he did everything possible to give a better explanation to Manasseh Azuri Awuni as spokesperson for the government but the latter turned down every answer the investigative journalist asked.

“Manasseh is my good friend and I understand today [27th July] his birthday. I told him that President Akufo- Addo will never condone such illegality and must dig for more information ” Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told host Simpson Lardy Ayenini.

Background

It would be recalled that on March 7 this year, a subsidiary of The Multimedia Group, JoyNews, aired a 22-minute long documentary titled, “Militia in the heart of the Nation” to ‘reveal’ government’s tolerance of a vigilante group training at and operating from the former seat of government.

Government disapproved of parts of the content of the documentary and took the matter to the National Media Commission for redress. Among others, the NMC averred in the ruling that the inclusion of shots from the Ayawaso West Wuogon violence and attack on the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator was at variance with the activities of the D-Eye Group as captured at the castle.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has however urged media houses in the country to take a cue from the ruling of the National Media Commission to soberly reflect on the role of the media and the need for responsible journalism in the country.

According to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, much as media houses may be keen on beating the competition with superior content, Journalists must remain ethical in the process and not sensationalise their work.

“We’re not interested in going to town and gloating over this. I think for us what has happened is an opportunity for sober reflection. Indeed it gives all of us an opportunity to sit back and reflect on the issues.”