UTV's Political Propaganda Targeting NDC Flagbearer John Dramani Mahama

The apology statement released by UTV in response to their town hall events in the Ashanti region raises significant concerns regarding the media outlet's journalistic integrity. It is imperative for the NDC national executives to decline UTV's apology, as there is evidence suggesting that UTV orchestrated a deliberate effort to tarnish the image of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer John Dramani Mahama and the NDC. Despite the apology being delivered in Twi, I will try my best to provide an English translation as follows:

“This afternoon, UTV's news segment featured a story about our visit to the Ashanti region, where we conducted town hall meetings with various Asante communities. During these meetings, we reported that the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress for the upcoming 2024 elections, John Dramani Mahama, has made statements suggesting that students who completed senior high school and wrote the WASSCE exams would have their results remarked due to alleged cheating. Regrettably, UTV's false reporting led to unfavorable comments from some Ghanaians in the Ashanti region towards the former president. UTV acknowledges this inaccuracy in reporting. The management of UTV, along with news editors, extends our sincere apology to President John Dramani Mahama. Additionally, UTV apologizes to the NDC national executives, party loyalists, and all UTV viewers, clarifying that the president has not proposed the cancellation or remarking of WASSCE exam results. As stated in Proverbs 28:13, "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

The NDC national executives must unwaveringly insist on genuine accountability from the UTV media outlet, given UTV's orchestrated efforts to besmirch the reputation of former President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC through deceptive reporting and political propaganda. It is crucial to recall the tactics employed by NPP media surrogates before the 2016 and during the 2020 elections, where false propaganda, including baseless claims such as the former president owning hotels in Dubai, ships in Tokyo, Japan, transferring funds from the Bank of Ghana to his offshore personal account, and involvement in the "guinea fowl" and "papa no" sagas, were used to tarnish his image. UTV should issue a comprehensive apology, and the NDC national executives must stand resolute in their demand for genuine accountability from UTV, citing the following:

A. Misleading Reporting and Political Propaganda: A critical analysis of the false statement by UTV against the President John Dramani Mahama demonstrates a pattern of misleading reporting that suggests a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of both the former president and the NDC. By falsely attributing statements to Mahama regarding the cancellation and remarking of WASSCE exam results, UTV engaged in political propaganda aimed at creating a negative perception.

B. Defamation and Character Assassination: The consequences of UTV's inaccurate reporting are evident in the unfavorable comments directed at President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC by some Ghanaians in the Ashanti region. This deliberate spreading of false information goes beyond mere journalistic errors; it amounts to defamation and character assassination. The NDC national executives have a legitimate cause to seek legal redress for the harm caused to the reputation of their party's presidential candidate.

C. Disingenuous Apology: UTV's apology appears disingenuous, and it raises questions about its sincerity. The NDC national executives should approach this apology with skepticism, considering the potential political motives behind the initial false reporting. A genuine apology should be explicit, addressing the harm caused and committing to corrective actions.

D. Call for Legal Action: Given the deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC, a compelling case for defamation can be made. Legal action is a necessary step to hold UTV accountable for their role in spreading false information that has damaged the reputation of both the flagbearer and the political party. The NDC national executives should pursue a defamation case against UTV.

E. Demand for Genuine Accountability: To ensure genuine accountability, the NDC national executives should reject UTV's apology unless specific corrective actions are taken. A proposal for UTV to conduct six months of townhall meetings in all constituencies in the Ashanti region, explicitly apologizing for their inaccurate reporting on John Dramani Mahama and the NDC, is a reasonable demand. This would not only rectify the harm caused but also demonstrate a commitment to rebuilding trust with the affected communities.