Minister fights journalists

New Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Oppong Asamoah left the Glasgow Commonwealth Games angry not because Ghana has failed to glitter, but due to the media’s high sense of scrutiny.

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE SPORTS desk in Glasgow suggests that the former Deputy Water Resources, Works and Housing Minister’s anger has been linked with Ghanaian newsmen’s consistent watchdog role of bringing activities of the country’s representatives to the public domain.

To him, journalists especially those from the state-owned media like the Ghana News Agency (GNA), were too critical and that they should have toned down in their reports on some of the events in Team Ghana’s camp, taking into account their positions as state-owned agencies.

As a result, he instructed the National Sports Authority’s chief accountant to freeze per diems due GNA reporter William Dodzie Ezah and William Fiabu, the photographer.

DAILY GUIDE SPORTS’ investigations indicate that per diems of $2,500 each were paid to some freelance journalists.

Team Ghana, who picked just two medals in the Glasgow Games camp, was rocked with negative but true stories which according to sources close to the Ministry, should have been swept under the carpet.