Onua TV, a part of the Media General group, has refuted media rumors stating that the host of the station’s morning program, Onua Maakye, has quit.
The show’s Monday, November 20 edition features Blessed Godsbrain Smart, also referred to as Captain Smart, jokingly telling his audience that he was leaving. His statements were misinterpreted as a resignation announcement.
Onua TV, however, disproved the reports on its Facebook page.
A final warning was sent to him and Onua radio/TV last week by the National Media Commission (NMC) in response to an inciting broadcast that the station had recently aired.
On Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the NMC Executive Secretary, George Sarpong, signed a statement in which the regulator labeled the aforementioned broadcast as both dangerous and unprofessional.
The statement addressed how Captain Smart called the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) commanders “beasts,” in a clear insult to them.
Furthermore, Captain Smart asserted that the officers embezzled funds intended for soldiers participating in peacekeeping missions, but he did not present any proof to back up his claims.
The station’s continued promotion of violence against the state in spite of prior warnings worried the NMC.
Onua Radio/TV was notified by the NMC in December 2022 about their use of the station to spread violent content and their management’s failure to take appropriate action.
The station must take steps to sanitize its broadcast and strengthen its ability to comply with regulations, the NMC stated in its statement.
The NMC further demanded that Onua Radio/TV issue an apology to the public of Ghana for using vulgar language, as well as to the CDS and his commanders for the insults.
The NMC gave Onua Radio/TV until November 19, 2023, to implement the suggested changes and present documentation of their adherence, failing which they would be subject to penalties.
