Media General throws full support for Captain Smart
The mother company of Onua FM and TV, Media General has expressed displeasure about the way and manner in which their staff member, Captain Smart was apprehended by the Police with the media conglomerate insisting that the statement made by the morning show host should not have warranted an arrest or invitation of any sort by the Police.
They also went ahead to lament about the new trend the Police has adopted to at the least issue arrest journalist and media practitioners.
Media Genera went ahead to disclose in the statement how this situation has affected their staff in the discharge of their duties and believe as Ghanaians their staff also deserve protection as enshrined in the 1992 constitution.
A careful review indicates: “Today’s arrest and detention of Captain Smart is by no means an isolated incident, but just one more egregious example of the intolerance increasingly creeping into the Ghanaian society. We are convinced that a careful review of the entire statement made by Captain Smart would reveal that it did not amount to threats to the peace and or stability of the country as claimed by the Ghana Police.
“The Media General Group would like to urge the Ghana Police Service and the IGP to exercise restraint in their dealings with journalists legitimately doing their work and dismiss these broad charges so that press freedom would be protected.
“We at Media General shall continue to preach and exercise responsible journalism. However, we would continue to empower our journalists and broadcasters to be fearless, honest and forthright in their professional outlook always,” a statement said.
Though Mr Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart has been released following his arrest, the company could not hide their frustration on how their staff are being treated by some security agencies.
While Captain Smart was at home officers, from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) entered and invited him to their office, to which he obliged and was subsequently taken to the Nima Police Station in Accra for interrogation.
The Police explained that the arrest of Captain Smart was due to some comments he was alleged to have made that, according to them, threatens the peace and security of the country.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
