General News of Thursday, 19 September 2013

Source: radioxyzonline

Kessben FM suspends 3 journalists over Otumfuo bribery slur

The management of a private radio station, Kessben FM, has suspended indefinitely, the three Journalists who reviewed Asante Monarch, Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s bribery slur publication.

The three, comprising Kessben FM morning show host and head of programmes, Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye and newscasters - Ali Baba Dankanbari and Akuoko Kwarteng, generated national consternation when they discussed the bribery slur on the morning show.

The story was first published by the New Free Press online, but went almost unnoticed, until Kessben FM republished it on the station’s morning show.

The publication alleged that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II brokered a bribery deal between President John Mahama and two of the nine Justices that sat on the election petition case.

It claimed the two Justices were given US$5 million each to sway their vote in favour of President Mahama in the election petition final verdict.

The Manhyia Palace has flatly denied the allegation and referred the matter to the National Media Commission for investigations.

The three Journalists recently filed a report at the Ashanti regional Police Command concerning alleged death threats issued against them following the airing of the story.

It is not clear why the management of Kessben FM has decided to indefinitely suspend the three Journalists.

XYZ News’ Ashanti regional Correspondent, Isaac Bediako Justice, reported that the three were out-rightly dismissed, but later suspended indefinitely upon the intervention of certain people at the station.