By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
A Kumasi-based radio station, Oyerepa FM, is back on air after the intervention by Some National and regional executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and some members of the Clergy, led by the former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante.
The GJA delegation to Manhyia was led by its president Mr. Albert Dwumfour, Public Affairs Officer Ms. Rebecca Ekpe, Nana Dei known in private life as Mr. Ransford Tetteh, a former editor of the Graphic Communication Group and a Past GJA President, GJA Regional Chairman Mr. Kingsley Hope, and the GJA Regional Secretary Madam Georgina Ama Ankumah.
Members of the Clergy were: Most Rev Prof Emmanuel Asante, Past Presiding Bishop, Rt Rev Nuh Ben Abubekr, Past Bishop of the Methodist Diocese of Kumasi, Rt Rev Stephen Kwaku Owusu, the Methodist Bishop of Kumasi and Rt. Rev Richard Bosomtwe Ayensu, Past Bishop of Methodist Diocese of Obuasi and Rev Dr. Douglas O Frimpong of the Christ Outreach Ministries and Lawyer Kwabena Appiagyei Asante-krobea, Lay Chairman of the Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana.
Other members of the delegation included the owner of the station, Emmanuel Agyemang and the General Manager Otuo Boadaa Acheampong.
The delegation earlier held a closed-door meeting within Bantamahene, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatiah VI, all geared towards resolving the impasse between Oyerepa FM and the chiefs before meeting the owner and management of the station to hear their side.
After the closed-door meetings with the two sides, the delegation was invited to Badwam at Manhyia Palace.
After a long-held mediation by the two bodies, Kumasi Traditional Council has resolved issues with the management of the Kumasi-based radio station and asked its management to resume operations immediately.
This was after the Chiefs took on the media house to the clearness for allowing its platform to be used for some utterances against them.
The GJA and the Religious body were in Manhyia on Monday, August 29, 2022, to intervene on behalf of the management of Oyerepa FM to apologise to the Kumasi Traditional Council.
Members of the Council who took their turns to address the issue refuted reports that they directed the closure of the media house and insisted they rather suggested to the management of Oyerepa FM to temporarily halt operations until the matter was resolved.
Addressing the gathering, the Acting president of the council, Bantamahene Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatiah VI, asked the station to resume operations and urged it to be guided by what happened and learn from it.
He said the delegation that accompanied the management team to the council meeting was such that the council could not refuse to listen to their plea and coupled with the fact that the management complied with the suggestion from the council to stop operations until the matter was resolved.
The Bantamahene explained that the traditional council faulted the station for what happened because it believed the host and the producers could have stopped or prevented their guest from uttering such words on their platform.
According to him, as the owner of a radio station, he was abreast with the operations of the radio stations and such programmes and therefore believed that a responsible radio station would not allow such to occur.
He, therefore, advised the radio stations and the media, in general, to be guided by what has happened in the management of the media and what they allow onto their airwaves.
Bantamahene alluded that the Ghanaian media have treated chiefs with disdain for far too long and it was time the chiefs stamped their feet and restored their respect.
According to him, chiefs do not control the mineral resources in the country even though the land belonged to them.
He said chiefs are not signatories to the allocation of the mining concessions or the licence for prospecting and wondered why they should be blamed for something that the government was responsible for.
He believed that Odike deliberately brought in the chiefs and tried to instigate the youth against them for other reasons.
Oyerepa FM shuts down in compliance with Kumasi Traditional Council order
Oyerepa FM shutdown: Residents of Accra speak up!
NMC to engage traditional leaders in Kumasi and management of Oyerepa FM over impasse
