Chronicle boss defends Jake suit against Graphic?

The Daily Guide carries that the publisher of the Ghanaian Chronicle, an independent daily newspaper on Wednesday defended the 100m cedis suit slapped on the Daily Graphic, a state-owned newspaper by Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff.

Mr Kofi Coomson, who was speaking on a Joy FM programme, the Super Morning Show hosted by Komla Dumor on the occasion of this year's Press Freedom Day that falls on May 3, said that the Graphic has enjoyed a long honeymoon with officialdom, and that this is the time to tell it that the honeymoon is over.

Also on the programme were Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Editor, publisher of the Weekly Insight.

Reacting on the responsibility of the Ghanaian Journalist up to date, Mr Kofi Coomson said the Daily Graphic published by the Graphic Communications Group, was irresponsible by publishing an allegation made by the Minority leader in Parliament, Mr. Alban S.K. Bagbin alleging that Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey has awarded a contract for 1.9 million cedis on the Castle renovation work, to his private company.

"Graphic could have crosschecked with Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey easily which the paper did not do and therefore Jake is right to defend his rights and reputation", Kofi Coomson said.