The National Media Commission (NMC) has emphasized that the recent events surrounding the arrest and prosecution of NPP individuals who disrupted the studios of United Television (UTV) should establish a new benchmark for evaluating government actions in the future.

The NMC specifically commended the role played by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, and the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, in ensuring the apprehension and legal action against the NPP individuals involved.

The NMC noted that, despite the fact that the instigators of the UTV incident were affiliated with their own political party, these officials chose to safeguard media freedom through their actions.

The NMC sees their actions as groundbreaking and believes that they should serve as the prevailing standard for future actions and decisions.

“There is novelty in the courage of a sitting Minister, a Member of Parliament and an active politician in reporting members of his own party to the police for invading a TV station. This must signify a new beginning towards addressing questions of the safety of journalists.

“He and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice had a choice. And they elected to exercise that in favour of media freedom. That behaviour sets a new standard by which government action must be judged into the future. We must hold the Ministers bound by this worthy precedent and define it as the standard by which we expect all future Ministers to act,” the NMC said in a statement.

Additionally, the NMC highlighted that the swift pace of the trial stands as evidence of the Chief Justice and the judiciary's dedication to preserving press freedom.

The 16 culprits were each fined GHS2,400 by the court.

“It is also important to acknowledge the police for arresting, investigating and prosecuting the offenders. Perhaps one positive aspect of the police action that requires to be highlighted is the responsiveness and professionalism of the commander of the Tesano Police and his team,” the NMC added.

The commission stressed that the public outrage that followed the invasion “indicate to us the values Ghanaians cherish in our democratic space and the level of decency required of us all.”

The commission acknowledged that although there have been reservations about the relatively lenient punishment handed down to the individuals involved by the court, it signifies a step in the right direction in the country's efforts to combat political impunity against journalists and the media at large.

“As a result, we call on all who care about the safety of journalists to see the conclusion of this case as the first step towards reversing impunity.  We believe our collective commitment to the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists will ultimately create a safer space for the practice of journalism in Ghana,” the NMC concluded.