The management of Nzema Today TV, an online news portal, has taken a swipe at the Chief of Half-Assini, Nana Ayebie Amihere VI, and his elders for deleting video footage captured by the station during the launch of the Soh Soh Doh Festival of the Chief and people of Half-Assini.

According to the TV station, the action constitutes an attack on press freedom and a gross violation of the fundamental human rights of its crew, who covered the event.

It will be recalled that the Nzema Today TV crew covered the launch of the annual Soh Soh Doh Festival at Half-Assini in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region.

The team was at the event to promote Nzema culture, heritage, and community activities.

However, in a twist of events, the Chief instructed the organizers to dismiss the Nzema Today TV crew.

They were asked to leave the occasion, and when they inquired about the reason, they were told again that it was the Chief’s instruction.

The Nzema Today TV crew later sought clarification from the Chief and his elders at the palace.

The Chief told the team that he had been following Nzema Today TV’s online news coverage, which he claimed had given extensive publicity to Tumivole Kaku Aka III.

The chief issued an ultimatum for them to delete all the video footage they had earlier recorded at the festival.

To the Chief of Half-Assini, once Nzema Today TV occasionally covers King Kaku Aka III, he would not allow the crew to cover the SOH SOH DOH Festival.

When the Nzema Today TV crew explained that the station exists to serve the interest of all Nzemas by promoting their history, culture, and traditions, as well as fostering unity to drive development in the Nzema area, they reminded the Chief and his elders that they had previously covered the Half-Assini Kundum Festival, in which the Chief himself was featured, and the materials were used solely to promote Nzema.

Despite this explanation, the Chief and his elders still demanded the camera of the TV crew and forcefully delete all the video footage Nzema Today TV had recorded on the festival.