Statesman newspaper ordered to retract stories about GNA boss

Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May 2002 - The National Media Commission (NMC) said on Tuesday it found no evidence of misappropriation or malfeasance on the part of Mr Robert Kafui Johnson, General Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), and directed an Accra independent newspaper, The Statesman, which published the allegations to retract the stories.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Nutifafa Kuenyehia, the Commission ordered the Statesman to render an unqualified apology to Mr Johnson within 14 days. "The said retraction and apology should be given front-page prominence and should be published in two consecutive editions of the newspaper.

This followed the resolution of a complaint lodged by Mr Johnson against the newspaper in respect of stories it published on 16 January, this year headed? "GNA sacks senior officer for spilling the beans," and another on 22 January, headlined "Pay scandal at GNA--Workers paid less than management claimed from Accountant-General.

In the 16 January story, the Statesman alleged that Mr Johnson had spent over 200 million cedis to refurbish his official residence at Cantonments in Accra at a time the organisation was in need of cash to purchase operational tools.

The Statesman further alleged on 22 January that the GNA management had been slashing salaries of workers, paying them less than the amount claimed from the Controller and Accountant-General's Department. "The General Manager, Mr Kafui Johnson may be defrauding workers to the tune of billions of cedis.

In his complaint to the commission, Mr Johnson, who produced evidence to deny the allegations, stated that the publication created the impression that he was corrupt and was involved in malpractice at the GNA. He said the publication, which was discussed extensively on radio, were premeditated, malicious and in bad faith and he sought a complete retraction of the stories and an apology from the Statesman.

The statement said Mr Amfo Kwakye, then Managing Director of Kinesic Communications, publishers of the Statesman, stated that the publications were not meant to tarnish the image of Mr Johnson and presented documents purported to be evidence for its claims when it appeared before the commission.

However, the commission said it found out "as a fact" that the stories as published by the Statesman could not be substantiated by the documents it made available. "There was no evidence of misappropriation or malfeasance on the part of Mr Kafui Johnson as alleged by the Statesman," the Commission wrote.

It established that the Public Works Department undertook the renovation of the bungalow, which had been duly allocated to the GNA by the government and adequate documentation was produced. The Commission observed that the Statesman and its source "do not appear to be conversant with the financial administration in the public service".