New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, has filed a complaint with the National Media Commission (NMC) against two media outlets operated by Media General for allegedly misrepresenting his comments on illegal mining (galamsey) and spreading false news.
Dr Afriyie was reported to have said that the NPP government would not end galamsey because doing so would harm the party’s chances in the upcoming December general elections.
However, he claims that his remarks were distorted.
In a letter sent to the NMC by his lawyers, he alleged that certain media houses, particularly Media General, unprofessionally edited and misrepresented his statements, with the intent of causing public disaffection and damaging his reputation as a medical doctor, politician, and MP.
The Lawyers for the MP stated they are awaiting a response from the NMC after the complaint was forwarded to Media General for their input.
He said a letter from the NMC to Media General has also been seen, asking the media house to address the matter.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Association has been petitioned to haul before its disciplinary committee and sanction Dr Afriyie, for daring to stand against the common position of the association in its call to ban illegal mining.
The petitioner, Dr (Med) Samuel Ayeh, a member of the GMA, wants the MP to be hauled before the disciplinary committee to answer questions and be severely sanctioned to “send the strongest of signals about the association’s commitment to the fight against illegal mining” and “most importantly signal to all members of the association the need to maintain high ethical standards befitting of medical practitioners in Ghana.”
In his plea to the GMA, Dr Ayeh emphasised that Dr Afriyie’s stance on galamsey contradicts the association’s official position on the matter.
