Sixteen (16) thugs affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who were arrested for attacking the offices of United Television (UTV) on Saturday, October 7, 2023, have been convicted and fined 200 penalty units which amounts to Ghc2400 each by the Achimota Magistrate Court.
The men were charged with conspiracy to commit crime and rioting. They pleaded guilty to the charges and were subsequently convicted by the court.
On Saturday, October 7, while the station’s prime-time entertainment show, ‘United Showbiz’ was ongoing, the thugs stormed the studio of UTV, disrupted the live programme, and proceeded to threaten to assault the host and her guests.
It later emerged that the thugs were led by the Klottey Korle Youth Organizer of the NPP, allegedly under the orders of Ernest Owusu Bempah, a Deputy Director of Communications and other leading figures of the ruling party.
The group were upset that A Plus – a panellist on the show – tore into pieces a letter from the NPP leadership to the management of UTV requesting a reform of the United Showbiz panel.
The Ghana Journalists Association, The Information Ministry and several organisations condemned the invasion of the NPP thugs.
The National Chairman of the NPP Stephen Ntim subsequently rendered an unqualified apology to the management of UTV.
Chairman Ntim walked into the studios of Peace FM on Thursday and publicly condemned the action of the NPP things.
In rendering the apology, he assured that the party leadership will ensure that such reprehensible action is not repeated.