NMC settles dispute between newspapers, SFO boss

Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - The National Media Commission (NMC) has settled a complaint lodged by Mr Theophilus Cudjoe, Acting Executive Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), against the Daily Guide and Heritage newspapers and their editors.

The complaints were in respect of articles published in Daily Guide on April 12, 2007 under the heading "SFO IS Dying". The Heritage issue of April 4 and 11, 2007 carried stories with headlines "SFO to hit the streets: Removal of Ag. Director is their aim" and "Deepening Crises at Investigation Bureau Coup at SFO." A press release signed by Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the NMC, said Mr. Cudjoe considered the publication defamatory and accordingly complained to the Commission.

The NMC said after examining the evidence as presented by the parties, it was of the view that parts of the publications as complained of were injurious to Mr Cudjoe and directed the newspapers to apologise to him and retract the stories in as far as they affected him. He said the directive should be carried out in 14 days from the date of its issuance and the apology and retraction should be carried in three successive editions of the newspapers.

The Commission expressed its appreciation to Mr Cudjoe and the parties concerned for using the Commission as a medium to settle their differences and advised all journalists to verify their stories with people concerned before publication.