Class Media Group interdicts Accra FM reporter over alleged extortion, blackmail

The Management of Class Media Group, owners of Class91.3FM and Accra 100.5FM, has interdicted one of its reporters with Accra FM, Nana Amoako Gyampah, for alleged extortion and blackmail.

This follows a complaint filed by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) against the journalist.

Mr Gyampah is alleged to have persistently demanded five million Ghana cedis from the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), as a pre-condition to spiking a “negative story” against the company.

A statement issued by GJA President, Affail Monney, stated that the journalist, during an interrogation at the Press Centre, admitted to the unethical behaviour, but again sent a WhatsApp message to the MD on Wednesday, 14 November 2018, in which he threatened to go ahead to publish the damaging stories against the ECG boss as punishment for leaking his demands to the GJA.

The GJA added that the “association finds the behaviour of Nana Gyampa before, during and after its investigation, as unrepentant, arrogant, reprehensible, unacceptable, mercenary and a clear breach of Article 10 of the GJA Code of Ethics, which states that a journalist “does not accept a bribe or any form of inducement to influence the performance of his or her professional duties”.

“The CID must, therefore, investigate the case further and allow the law to take its course.”

A statement signed by the Human Resource Manager of CMG, Mr Daniel Adjei Frimpong on Wednesday, said the management “takes serious view of the issues raised by the GJA in relation to the alleged blackmailing of the MD of the ECG”.

It added: “...Management has, therefore, commenced immediate investigations into the matter for necessary action to be taken. As the first step, Nana Amoako Gyampah has been interdicted.

"Management wishes to assure our cherished listeners and the discerning public that the CMG values transparency, honesty and ethical journalism and we will continue to adhere to the highest standard of journalism”.