On Saturday, October 8, 2023, UTV, one of Ghana’s prominent media houses, faced a brazen attack on their premises by a group of individuals claiming affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The incident disrupted their live program, “United Showbiz,” which prompted the station to release an official statement addressing the unfortunate event.
In the statement issued by UTV management, the details of the incident were laid bare.
They mentioned that on October 7, 2023, a group of people identifying themselves as NPP sympathizers or members stormed the UTV premises, causing significant disruption to the ongoing live broadcast of “United Showbiz.” The disruption was so severe that the program had to be halted for nearly an hour.
However, thanks to the timely intervention of the police, peace and order were restored. UTV expressed its gratitude to the Police Administration, particularly the Inspector General of Police (IGP), for their assistance in quelling the disturbance. The media house also pledged to collaborate with the authorities to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
UTV management condemned the act of violence and vandalism, emphasizing that it violated fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as the independence of the media, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
They expressed deep concern about the event and affirmed their commitment to taking all necessary security and legal measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Recognizing that the incident had raised concerns among stakeholders, UTV assured everyone of their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of their employees, guests, properties, clients, and all other stakeholders. They also offered reassurance to their employees, vowing to put in place the necessary measures to ensure their safety at the workplace and provide support during this trying time.
The statement concluded with UTV expressing gratitude to viewers and various stakeholders, including the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), National Democratic Congress (NDC), the leader of The Movement for Change, National Media Commission (NMC), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and other well-wishers for their support.
See the full statement below:
