“We were more Kotoko-biased when we started publications so when we shifted into politics, it tended to be similar [with focus on anti-NDC stories] because we took it that NPP supporters tend to buy more papers than the NDC’s. Our priority is the money. In Ghana, daily sales is on headlines” …This was the revelation of Gina Blay, Chief Executive of Western Publications Ltd – Publishers of Daily Guide newspaper, when she appeared on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Wednesday.
Gina Blay’s confession that the diabolical stories against the NDC as a party and government over the years, were deliberately planted to milk supporters of the New Patriotic Party, shocked many of those who listened into the conversation.
Mrs Blay, who is married to the Acting Chairman of the NPP, said the business plan of the paper is to put out any information that will trigger excitement of majority of NPP supporters.
Shocked by her comments, Host of the show, Kwabena Anokye Adisi, popularly known as Bola Ray, described the policy of the newspaper to sensationalize issues for cash as very unprofessional, but Gina Blay who appeared very comfortable brushed it aside saying it is not a conscious decision.
Asked whether her sympathies towards NPP makes her biased, compelling the editorial board of the paper to skew stories in favour of the NPP, she cringed.
Throughout the interview she tried to dispute the tag that the Daily Guide is an NPP tabloid.
“I doubt if other newspapers are not sensational. We do …..eeeeerhm especially Tabloid newspapers for example, Tabloid is not a negative word. It only shows the size of the paper. It is not so much about politics,” Mrs Blay, a member of the National Media Commission argued.
The confession of Daily Guide’s secret, coming in the wake of this week’s false publication alleging Minister for Roads and Highways and MP for Tamale Central, Alhaji Inussah Fuseini, paid 80,000 cedis to music icon, Shatta Wale to perform at his campaign launch has angered NPP sympathizers who feel insulted by the comments.
“So Daily Guide has been feeding us with false impression about the situation on the ground. No wonder Nana Akufo Addo lost the elections twice. Why should a paper refuse to publish stories that paint the true picture on the ground but seeks its business interest by feeding me with false hope?” Ankamah Asiamah told this newspaper.
The CEO of Western Publications Ltd – Publishers of Daily Guide newspaper however said times have changed and the paper is considering changing its focus.
According to her, times have changed and it is difficult for Daily Guide to ignore achievements by President John Mahama’s administration.
“NDC members read Daily Guide but the NPP supporters read it more. Private newspapers hardly get adverts. If you notice, the past two or three elections, we hardly got adverts from either parties, NPP however a bit. But times are changing. It’s a business decision” she emphasized adding that they care less about the impact.
Incidentally, Gina Blay is married to the acting Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay who has been allegedly condemned by the NPP for promoting the re-election bid of President John Mahama in the forthcoming general elections in her newspaper.
Mrs Blay confirmed allegations of threats and insults launched on the management by die hard NPP supporters when she explained that there have since been unabated queries over her husband’s loyalty to the cause of the party.
Some hardliners in the party are reportedly scheming for the removal or sidelining of the acting Chairman, whose performance since the suspension of Chairman Paul Afoko has been described as very abysmal and embarrassing to the NPP brand.
Others are still suspicious of Mr Freddie Blay who joined the party after serving the CPP as MP for several years is only exploiting a comfort zone in the NPP when his party rejected him after the 2008 elections for betraying his loyalty.
What perhaps will provoke NPP supporters even more is Gina Blay’s public statement that she is not a member of the party.
“I’m not a member of the NPP… but I’m a sympathizer of the NPP,” it’ll be odd if I weren’t, but I’m because my husband is and the whole family is,” she told host Bola Ray.
Her statement shocked many NPP supporters because Gina Blay made it in the many years she served as Presidential correspondent for the Daily Guide. She travelled to almost everywhere in the world with President Kuffuor.
'Is Freddie Blay saying that without promoting NDC achievements and asking his readers to vote for John Mahama, his paper will collapse? How has his newspaper survived all these years without the NDC advertisement?'….a leading member of the NPP, Nana Fredua allegedly lamented recently on an Accra based radio programme.
Speculations are rife that Nana Akufo Addo who is unhappy about the Daily Guide’s position which serves the company’s interest, is choosing cash over loyalty to the NPP. The NPP Presidential candidate however finds it difficult to axe Freddie Blay too because it will deepen perceptions about his intolerance and vindictive nature.
But the Ag. National Chairman of NPP, Freddie Blay has personally waded into the controversy reportedly describing his critics, accusing him of promoting John Mahama, as silly and ignorant.
Source: Dan Acheampong (The Citizen's Mail)
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH NDC PAY FOR ONE ADVERT IN DAILY GUIDE? THIS IS A PARTY WHICH SPEND OUR MONEY FOR NOTHING. LET DAILY GUIDE TAKE ITS SHARE . BUT THEY SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT THE ELECTION WILL SOON BE OVER. IT IS SHAME. THIS WOMAN IS NOT A FAN OF NPP BUT FOR HER STOMACH.
Jonathan, did not know you really know the Word of God so well. You surprise me by the trash you spew out when you write. Do you know that by what you say is what will be used to judge in the presence of God when you appear before Him. BE wise and aware of the consequences of your action.
Oyiwa!Now we know all this so called NPP die hard people are acting on self interest for money and not loyalty to the Mother Ghana.More of such confessions would follow soon.The cane that Frieddy Blay made Npp whip Afoko and co with is soaked in urine waiting for him also....Freddy blay be prepared you are the next to be suspended and booted out!Now you would see the true colours of the intorelant behaviour of your party members.
@ Osei.A little monkey like you posts nos3nse on the net simply because you can.Your horrible grammar tells me you did not complete primary school education.Instead of animals like you using the good Lord's gift given to every human being to reason and behave accordingly you are posting junk ,insulting people whose shoe strings none in your family of primates qualities to tie.You have this day cursed yourself and generations after you.
WHEN THE ASSYRIAN KING CALLED SENACHERIB DEFIED THE GATES OF JERUSALEM AND INVITED KING HEZEKIAH TO SURRENDER OR FACE ANNIHILATION,,,, ALL THE KING DID IS TO SEND THE LETTER TO THE ALTAR OF THE MOST HIGH.... YOU CAN IMAGINE THE FURY OF GOD.... BEING DARED BY AN ASSYRIAN BARKING DOG. MY GOODNESS.... ( A DOG, BARKING AT GOD) THE ACCUSATION OF THE KING TO THE KING OF KINGS WAS SIMPLE..... SO I WILL NOT CONTINUE MY STORY. BUT IN THE END, GOD TURNED THE ASSYRIAN ARMY AGAINST EACH OTHER TILL THEY SLAUGHTERED ONE ANOTHER, FINALLY,AN ARMY OF SIX KINGDOMS PUT TOGETHER DISSIPATED WITHIN A FLASH. SENACHERIB TOOK FLIGHT AND WAS LATER FOUND MURDERED BY HIS KINSMEN. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND,,,,, AND COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS..... DOVETAIL THIS INTO THE RECENT EVENTS OF THE NPP AND YOU CAN SEE THE SHADOWS LURKING OVER THEM.
this is certainly a disgrace to the Blays especially mrs Gina. i wouldnt be surprised if mrs gina has been greased in her palms. no wonder how some people like her talk with impunity. CHOOSING MONEY OVER LOYALTY!! it is not everythn that is sensible to do even if you have the chance. the mere talk from that soo called gina blay annoys me to the bone. does she not get advice from her husband?
Assuming this was the paper of Afoko or Kwabena Agyepong-Heavens and hel would have fallen at Kokomlemle. Now the traitor Freddy Blay is showing his true colors. This same Daily Guide was used to vilify Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong little knowing that there was an agenda to take over chairmanship of NPP. See how we have been ***barred word*** by Freddy Blay to such an extent that NPP was fighting among themselves. How can Musah supeior say Agyepong removed the picture of Nanan Addo and put that of Kuffour in his office so its sinful and a charge against him brough before so called disciplinary committee made up of elders- Hmm we want change from the current ***barred word*** if not like we will punish Akuffo Addo and his cohorts for the sins and divisions he has brought to NPP.
New Era of John Mahama means Thi@very, 1ncompetence, 1nsensitive, and Corruption at the highest level
I thought I was reading a credible news paper.
See you F001ishness here, you can even express your us1ess self on this platform. Ose you are indeed aan NDC B1ockheaded F001.