The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has stated that the National Media Commission still has the mandate to control content on TV despite the absence of a broadcasting bill.
His comment follows assertions by NMC boss Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh that his outfit is helpless in controlling content on TV.
The NMC boss made the comment on the back of reports that some spiritualists who appear on some TV channels in the country demand human parts from their clients to perform money-making rituals.
Speaking in an interview on Asaase Radio, Nkrumah described Boadu-Ayeboafoh’s statement as rather unfortunate.
“Already there are constitutional provisions which give the National Media Commission the power. If you look at Article 167 (b) it says, to take all appropriate measures to ensure the establishment and maintenance of higher journalistic standards in the mass media etc.
“I am one of those who is of the view that under Article 167 (b) of the NMC Act they even have powers as at now to act. Act and be condemned but to sit back that we have no powers to act in an instance like this, I don’t think I agree with them,” the minister said.
Previous intervention He cited instances when the ministry had to report the activities of spiritualists and money-doublers on TV to the NMC and the Bank of Ghana leading to a directive by the latter.
“In February 2020 was the first time we wrote to the NMC and copied the Bank of Ghana drawing their attention to all of these money-doublers and all traditional persons on TV advertising money-doubling and antics.”
Nkrumah is, however, hopeful the broadcasting bill, which will be laid before Parliament next month, when passed will give the NMC more powers to effectively perform its mandate.
“While I agree that we need to pass the broadcasting law to give them some more teeth, there is enough ammunition even from the Constitution with which they can act, respectfully I think that the NMC can bite a bit more than they are doing now,” he said.
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