Over the weekend during the 34th anniversary of the International Central Gospel Church, founder, Pastor Dr Mensah Otabil had told his congregation that rather than focusing on discussing and finding solutions to the numerous problems confronting the country, Ghanaian media choose to wallow in ceaseless political discussions all-year round.
Pastor Mensa Otabil said the media in Ghana are so “depressing” and full of “mediocrity” – a situation, he said, compels him to prefer watching foreign TV channels that show documentaries about animals rather than wasting his time listening to local radio or watching local TV stations.
The revered clergyman took swipe at the media for extreme partisanship and plain mediocrity.
“You listen to our national conversations, you wonder: are we serious? We eat and drink politics… Turn on radio; here [Ghana], there is no political vacation. From the time the vote is cast to the time the next vote is cast, we argue politics morning, afternoon, evening”, he said.
But it appears the clergyman’s words did not sit well with one of Ghana’s top media CEOs- owner of one of Ghana’s biggest radio stations Citi FM - Mr Samuel Atta-Mensah, popularly known as Sammens.
An avid social media user, the CEO of Citi FM, who is also the Vice President of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) wrote in a post which has since been deleted, “I hear one pastor is talking about the “sorry state” of the Ghanaian media. Please tell that pastor to tell the whole Ghana on the same pulpit about the state of the church in Ghana today. I will continue with the post next week Sunday.”
Mr Atta-Mensah was referring to Pastor Dr Mensah Otabil’s viral comment about the “depressing” and “mediocre” state of Ghana’s media landscape which he (Mr Atta-Mensah happens to own and run one).
With the post deleted, it remains to be seen if the influential CEO still has a promise to keep “next week Sunday”.
Source: mynewsgh.com
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Both of them are One Hundred Per Cent right. Ghana as a whole is fast declining in all areas with politics followed by christianity declining the fastest
The CEO of city fm is right. Pastor should also talk about how pastor's like him, are duping innocent church members through cunning means like, pastor's appreciation, founders appreciation, give so much and you will have so much wealth or you will receive 24hr miracle.
Otabil spews a lot of ***barred word*** because he had a large following nobody wants to criticize him. He was responsible for the collapse of a bank and brought distress to many homes. At the end of the day there is nothing new he teaches except the unlettered. If he knows he should apologize to the distress he had caused so many homes and unapologetic rather says those who look like insult are insulting him. No wonder he gets cheap money from collections and thinks he knows it all. The CEO of citi FM is right and very right.
Pls let face facts in this country .pastor otabil is hundred percent right. U open radio politics all over.can't we as a country be serious for once.pls let be serious in this country.there are issues to talk about .educated people how to keep this country clean.,about law and order infact a lot.pls.so called book long people at times when u listen to them u vomit. Try to think if they bought there certificate. Wake up Ghana.
After gaining popularity through the Ghanaian media, you turn around to slam them. Show your sermon on Indian and Chinese TV station, take them off air.
hey hey hey atta mensah, are you 100% alright, pastors like mensah otabil has credibility and be warn, he did not critic the media executives or leadership, you if had a point, can devote ya radio station time to discuss pastors and can tell you that you cant find a single fault about him. he has been a pastor for over decades but who can point out a mistake of unrighteous about otabil. look if you moving with gabby to eat common waakye in the USA @200 at no shame, you cant bring ya non.sense here. you must be ashamed of ya self. isnt the pastor right?, compare the media days in rawlings time why journalist and presenters like kwamena dumor, kwaku sakyi addo, kofi owusu among other can ask vital question to both the party in power (rawlings) and opposition (kufour), those were the days not now journalist can even form association to support a clear corrupt man lik GFA president, do you think the media would have allowed nantakyi or collaborated with him, dumor fought rawlings on SSNIT in helping the poor pensioner , what arre the media these days doing?, report political fake news or greetings to their pocket sponsors even at the expense of the station they are paid from. masa sit up and stop the none.sense, ok, you are also part 1, i will be waiting for you next week and give to you, you a disgrace to the media CEO and society, ***barred word***
What Pastor Mensah Otabil is the very truth. What bores me is that the media has politicians expert in every field and they come on TV with their partisan arguments. The Indian TV station NDTV assemblies panels for every topic with different personalities; politicians from across the political divide, academicians, current and retired practitioners, civil society advocates, student activists, etc. The intellectual discourse speckled with practical nuggets is a delight to watch. The politicians play their their usual tricks but are quickly smothered with superior arguments of the knowledgeable persons. In Ghana it is the recycled panelists whose pet peeves we already know who are shown every day. Annoyingly boring! I switch off to watch TED Talks downloaded from ***barred word***
How journalists love to attack but hate to be criticized bothers me. They think they are so and always perfect. Just listen to the message please. I am no fan Otabel, but he said nothing wrong. And how can the head of a Media station say "I hear". I thought journalism was about prove or facts. "I hear". City FM is a fine media outlet but their boss is orally amateur.
If he had the time to the full message by Dr. Otabil, he wouldn't have posted this. The pastor actually talked about the state of churches in Ghana. That was the start of his message.
Samens, you misfire. Thought you were going to speak to what Dr. Mensa Otabil said rather than comparing two things that he did not talk about. He said he would not listen or watch TV because of incessant discussion of politics that do not produce or provide productivity. Yours is to critique his assertion rather than comparing the state of the Church and the state of the Media. Come again, Samens ...