After more than a year of boycotting all Media General (MG) platforms, including TV3, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has returned to all platforms of the organization.
The other platforms are 3FM, Onua FM and Onua TV, Akoma FM, Connect FM.
The official comeback was announced by the party’s General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua today, Friday, February 13 during a visit to TV3.
Recall that the party early last year officially announced its decision to boycott the platforms following what it calls consistent bias.
The boycott was officially announced by Richard Ahiagbah, the Communications Director, after months of allegations of bias against presenters on especially TV3.
The statement dated January, 2025 accused the organization of failing to ensure balance panel discussions, which often work against the party. The party cited instances of disruptive hosting and failure to manage inflammatory comments on air.
“This notice is to announce the withdrawal of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from all Media General platforms.
This decision comes after months of engagements with the production team, hosts, and management of Media General to address concerns regarding unprintable attacks on leading figures of our party, biased paneling of guests, and disruptive hosting of political shows designed primarily to drown and create doubt about the submissions of our representatives”.
Before the formal boycott, it communicators stopped going to especially TV3. It banned all it communicators and officials from appearing on all platforms.
In the first U-turn on Tuesday, February 12, Ahiagbah issued a formal statement reversing the decision.
He explained that the current decision “Includes interviews, panel discussions, press conferences, and media briefings involving party executives and representative”.
According to him, this decision follows constructive discussions between the party leadership and Media General’s Management. Both parties have agreed on ground rules to uphold higher professional standards and to ensure fair and balanced interactions that serve the public interest.
We look forward to renewing our partnership with Media General as we work to strengthen Ghana’s democracy”.
While away, the party had some of it bigwigs including former Speaker of Parliament, former president Kufuor, Minority Leader Alex Afenyo Markin and host of others, appearing on especially TV3.
Other known members like Dr Zaato, Andy Appiah Kubi, a former NPP Member of Parliament for the Asante Akyem North consistently appeared on New Day and the Keypoints programme on Saturdays.
The sour relationship between the two degenerated to the point where in one instance TV3’s microphone was pushed away during a press conference by the NPP’s 2nd vice chairperson popularly known as Chairman Buga.
An official statement from MG dated February 13, said it has welcomed the decision by the party to return to all it platforms across the country.
“We have consistently upheld the highest standards of journalism, ethics, and values, delivering fearless reportage and impartial coverage. Our commitment to these principles remains unwavering yesterday, today, and always”, the release signed by Sena Edekor signed on behalf of Management of Media General.
By Gifty Boateng