Voice of America launched in 1942 with a mandate to combat Nazi and Japanese propaganda
Donald Trump don sign one order to stop di federally funded news organisation Voice of America, accusing am of being “anti-Trump” and “radical”.
One White House statement say di order go “ensure taxpayers no longer dey on di hook for radical propaganda”, and include quotes from politicians and right-wing media wey tok against di “leftist”, “partisan” VOA.
VOA, wey still primarily be radio service, bin dey set up during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda. Hundreds of millions of pipo around di world dey use am.
Mike Abramowitz, VOA director, say e and virtually im entire staff of 1,300 pipo don dey put on paid leave.
Abramowitz say di order no make VOA able to carry out iM “vital mission… especially wey dey critical today, wen kontries wey no gbadun America, like Iran, China, and Russia, dey sink billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit di United States”.
Di president order target VOA parent company US Agency for Global Media, or USAGM, wey dey also fund non-profit like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, wey bin dey originally set up to counter communism.
E tell managers to “reduce performance… to di minimum presence and function required by law”.
CBS, di news partner of BBC for US, say VOA employees receive di news via email by Crystal Thomas, USAGM human resources director.
One source tell CBS say all freelance workers and international contractors receive message say money no dey now to pay dem.
Emails wey CBS see notify di bosses of Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty say dia federal grants don dey terminated.
VOA and oda stations under USAGM dey serve more dan 400,000,000 listeners and dey similar to BBC World Service, wey dey partly-funded by di British government.
Elon Musk, di billionaire and top adviser to Trump wey don dey oversee di cuts to US government, don use im social media platform X to call for VOA to dey shut down.
Di US president also cut funding to several oda federal agencies – including those responsible for preventing homelessness, and funding museums and libraries.
Trump bin dey criticise VOA well-well for im first term. E recently appoint strong loyalist Kari Lake to be special adviser for di US Agency for Global Media.
Di president regularly dey say mainstream media outlets dey biased against am. E call CNN and MSNBC “corrupt” and “illegal”, without providing evidence, during one speech for di justice department.
Di White House statement link to several commentators and reports from right-wing media organisations about VOA alleged bias.
E quote one article wey dey written for di right-wing Washington Times by Dan Robinson, one former White House correspondent for VOA, wey say di organisation don “essentially become one rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias”.
E include links to oda articles wey accuse VOA managers of telling staff not to describe Hamas as “terrorist organisation”, and to suppress negative reports of Iran.
Oda links na to everyday reporting of di 2020 US election, wey e claim say dey favourable to Trump rival Joe Biden.
Voice of America launch for 1942 wit mandate to fight Nazi and Japanese propaganda. Im first broadcast – wey dem do wit transmitter wey BC borrow US – tok about a modest purpose.
Gerald Ford, former president, sign di VOA public charter for 1976 to safeguard im editorial independence.
By 1994, di Broadcast Board of Governors, with oversight over non-military broadcasting, bin dey established.
For 2013, one shift in legislation allow VOA and affiliates to begin broadcasting for di US.
The Asantehene further appealed to all factions involved to lay down their arms, emphasising the need for dialogue and a collective effort to address the deep-rooted historical challenges fueling the conflict.
Former Akuapem North MP, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, has issued a strong warning to journalist Kwaku Annan, demanding he either provides proof of his claims against her or faces legal action as reported by Ghana Web.
