20100720
africanews

The acting news editor of top radio station Joy FM, Ato Kwamena Dadzie, has been charged for false publication intended to cause fear and harm in the West African nation Ghana. However, media moguls have reacted angrily to the incident that stands to ruin Ghana's press freedom reputation.

According to the station’s online edition – myjoyonline – Dadzie would be prosecuted on Wednesday for refusing to disclose sources of a news story the station aired in which it was reported that members of the Ghana Real Estate Development Agency (GREDA) received threatening text messages to back down on their opposition to a $10 billion housing project that government had entered into with Korea construction firm STX.

However, Dadzie wrote on his blog that he was bailed up to an equivalent tune of $4, 000 awaiting court appearance date from the police. "All I can say, for now, is that I am unfazed. I am hoping for the best but I’m very prepared for the worst," he stated.

The Chairman of the National Media Commission Kabral Blay-Amihere said government should desist from using such draconian laws to cow journalists.

The General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association Bright Blewu said he was utterly shocked by the turn of events and hopes the Attorney -General's office would strike out the case.

The Executive Secretary of the West Africa for Media Foundation Prof Kwame Karikari said: “For us advocates of press freedom, the critical issue for us here is the sudden use of this particular legislation against the media… It is a bad law for press freedom. It is a bad law for free expression.”