Renowned Ghanaian legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw has berated the recent decision by the Kumasi Traditional Council to tentatively close down Oyerepa FM.
He said that decision was arbitrary and it contravenes the 1992 constitution.
Speaking in an interview on GTV in Accra, the lawyer said no Ghanaian chief has the right to curtail freedom of speech.
“(The chiefs were) purporting to have rights to close radio stations that say things they are unhappy with – directly in violation of our constitutions. I think that it ought to be stated that Ghana is a Republic – a democratic republic – it is not a chiefdom.
“We respect our Chiefs. They play very important roles in our society but they do not have the power or authority to close down radio stations,” he said.
In an interview on Oyerepa Radio, Akwasi Addai Odike rebuked the chiefs for failing to help end the ‘galamsey’ menace in the Ashanti Region.
According to the Kumasi Traditional Council, the businessman turned politician made inciteful statements that the Council deemed to be distasteful, unsubstantiated, and meant to dent the image of Manhyia.
The chiefs then ordered the radio station to shut down as a sign of remorse for allowing Odike to use their platform to criticise them. The station obliged and shut down of a day but has since resumed operating.
The Kumasi Traditional Council performed rituals to banish Akwasi Addai, who is popularly known as Odike, for accusing Ashanti chiefs of condoning illegal mining.
Pulse
