You’ve no right to shut down media houses – Sulemana Braimah to Kumasi authorities
Mr Sulemana Braimah Executive director of Media Foundation for West Africa has waded into the tussle between the founder of the United Progressive Party, Akwasi Addai Odike and some traditional authorities in Kumasi. Mr Braimah indicated that he disagrees with Kumasi authorities’ orders that Oyerapa FM should stop operations because Mr Odike used their platform to make untrue allegations against the traditional authorities.
According to Mr Braimah, this order infringes on the independence of the Media House
“It is a worrying development, and it is an act of censorship being imposed by the traditional authorities on the radio station. In other words, when the radio station or media organization in that jurisdiction errs, traditional authorities will say ‘we have the power and authority to shut you down,” he said.
Mr Okdike made the Kumasi Traditional Council angry after alleging that most of the Chiefs are into illegal mining and also going on to call on the youth to bring some of the leaders alleged to be deep-necked into the act to book.
The traditional council which did not take kindly to the comments made by Mr Odike ordered the temporal closure of the media house on Friday 26th August 2022 as punishment for allowing Mr Odike to level such allegations against the chiefs.
Mr Braimah further pointed out that what the authorities are doing to the media house is not backed by law and expressed worry that it could be a recipe for clashes between youth groups in the area.
