Media General has described as unfortunate and bad for media freedom the arrest of one of its broadcast Journalist, Blessing Godsbrain Smart also known as ‘Captain Smart’.
According to Media General, they believe the statements made by Smart should not be one that should be interpreted in the manner that the Police did to warrant the arrest of the journalist.
The Company also expressed grave concern on what they say is an increasingly new trend of the arrest of journalists and media practitioners in the country by the Police.
“Today’s arrest and detention of Captain Smart is by no means an isolated incident, but one more egregious example of the intolerance increasingly creeping into the Ghanaian society.
“This recent trend of picking journalists has affected journalists who work with Media General who are simply doing their work and, like every Ghanaian should be protected by the Constitution,” the Group bemoaned in a press release signed by the Group Head of Corporate Affairs, Christopher Koney.
Smart was granted bail Thursday night after he was arrested in the afternoon.
According to a police statement, “he was arrested following some unsavoury pronouncements that hinge on peace and security. He has been cautioned on the offence of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace as provided under section 207 of the Criminal Act, 1960 (Act 29). He is presently in Police custody assisting the investigations”.
The controversial Onua FM broadcaster has in recent scaled up his criticism of the Akufo-Addo administration, and some other reputable personalities in the country over what he says is their silence on the government.
However, the Media General Group in the statement urged the Ghana Police Service and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to exercise restraint in their dealing with journalists legitimately doing their work and dismiss these broad charges so that press freedom would be protected.
Source: Isaac Dzidzoamenu
