A group of angry young men who identified themselves as members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) noisily invaded the studios of United Television Ghana, (UTV) on Saturday night during a live telecast of the stations popular entertainment talk show, United Showbiz and disrupted the programme temporarily.
The uninvited guests, numbering about 30 insisted they would not leave the studio until one of the programme’s panel members, Kwame A-Plus renders an apology for remarks they describe as insulting to the NPP’s leadership, the Vice President and the President.
The invaders also claimed the entertainment show has become a political one with a one sided panel who consistently speak against the NPP and incumbent government in a rather insulting manner.
It took the intervention of a team of police men who were called into the studio before the uninvited guests agreed to leave.
They referred to a specific incident when Kwame A-Plus, while on the show, read out and then tore into pieces a letter the NPP had written to the management of UTV, to complain about an unfair panel selection.
The invaders explained further: “That same person has insulted our General Secretary, he has insulted our vice President, and he has insulted our President. And there is nobody here to defend them. We are the youth of this country and not only the political party that we belong to.
“We feel it is unfair and that is why we have come here. We respect you so much but the programme has turned into a political show. If you want us to move outside before they start the programme but you can assure us that we can come inside, fine. However, we expect that you allow even about three or four of us to be here, we would be grateful we are not here to fight, we are here on a very peaceful mission.”
A statement from the Police Headquarters a few moments later read: “Following a complaint from the Despite Media Group and Ministry of Information that certain people had invaded the studios of U-TV this evening, the Police proceeded to the scene and arrested sixteen (16) persons in connection with the incident.
“They are currently at the Police Station assisting investigations.”
CONDEMNATION
Director of Communications for the NPP, Richard Ahiagba, appeared on the show to put on record that the Party did not send the angry young men into the UTV studio.
Mr. Ahiagba condemned the invasion and called on the Police service to do a thorough investigation to ascertain the truth behind the development.
On Sunday, official statements from the Ministry of Information, the Ghana Journalists Association, the National Media Commission and the National Democratic Congress all condemned the development.
