NPP Youth Wing React To “Distortions And Falsehoods From Government”

The Youth Wing of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has denied reports by the Ministry of Information that the National Youth Organizer of the NPP, Anthony Abayifa Karbo led a group of thugs to the premises of Asempa FM to stop a live political discussion program.

According to them, nothing of that sort that is being put out by the ministry transpired on that faithful day, noting that the youth organizer in the company of other officials of the NPP went to the premises of Multimedia to protest to the management on the treatment meted out to NPP representatives on the show.

FULL PRESS STATEMENT FROM NPP YOUTH WING

REACTION TO DISTORTIONS AND FALSEHOODS FROM GOVERNMENT

Our attention has been drawn to a statement issued by the government through the Ministry of Information and various comments made on various media platforms by the Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. James Agyenim-Boateng to the extent that the National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo led a group of thugs to the premises of Asempa FM to stop a live political discussion programme on Wednesday, 22nd February, 2012.

We wish to state very clearly and emphatically that nothing of that sort as is being put out by the Ministry of Information transpired on that fateful day. The truth is that the National Youth Organizer in the company of other officials of the New Patriotic Party in the persons of Deputy Directors of Communication, John Boadu and Perry Okudzeto and the National Nasara Coordinator, Abubakar Sulemana went to the premises of Multimedia Limited, owners of Asempa FM to protest to the Management on the treatment meted out to two NPP representatives on the particular political discussion show, Hopeson Adorye and the Honourable Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, who had been told by the host that they were not making sense and walked out after they sought to protest against very disparaging comments that had been made by government communicators against the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo.

It should be stated very clearly and strongly that neither did the National Youth Organizer nor any NPP official walk into the studios of Asempa that afternoon and no official of the Party ever attempted to stop the programme. The programme was stopped by the Management of Multimedia who insisted, based on the occurrences during the programme, that the programme be brought to an end. It should also be stated strongly that neither did Anthony Karbo or any other official of the NPP go to the premises of Multimedia with thugs or any group of persons; they went there alone.

We wish to end by stating that the NPP acting as a body or through any recognized official has never sought to stop any programme forcibly or otherwise on any media platform and would never seek to do such a thing. The New Patriotic Party believes in deepening our democracy and promoting media freedoms and that it what it would continue to espouse and promote whether in power or in opposition. We would also be happy if the government and its officials in their dealings and statements to the Ghanaian populace stick to the truth and act as honestly as possible as falsehoods and lies like those being uttered on this specific issue only go to reduce the credibility of the government and its officials.

….Signed………………..
Anthony Abayifaa Karbo
(National Youth Organizer, NPP)