The spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign on energy has received a stern warning to conduct himself appropriately during his next appearance on Multimedia’s JoyNews platform or face being blacklisted.
This caution comes after an attempt by Kwadwo Poku to portray Benjamin Akakpo, co-host of the AM Show program, as acting in favour of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During the segment reviewing newspapers, Mr Poku expressed concern about the host providing an answer to a question that both he and Benjamin initially struggled to answer.
The energy expert, along with financial analyst Wisdom Kofi Dogbey from the United States, among others, were asked to discuss some of the policies outlined in the NDC’s Youth Manifesto, launched by the party’s flagbearer John Dramani Mahama on Monday, August 12.
One of the promises in the NDC manifesto is to cover the academic fees for first-year tertiary students in public universities. While the panel agreed it was a commendable idea, they, including the host, questioned the source of funding.
In the midst of the discussion, the host suddenly provided an answer to the funding issue, which he said was provided by a member of the production team. Mr Poku found this gesture unfavourable and expressed his discomfort by questioning if the show had become an NDC platform.
In response, Benjamin sharply warned Mr Poku, stating, “If you exhibit bias that you have not disclosed in the past while participating in our discussions, it may be best not to join the conversation next time.
Furthermore, if you feel uncomfortable engaging in these discussions with us, please communicate that so we can make appropriate arrangements for future sessions.”
He continued, “I almost mentioned that I received additional information from our production team about previous discussions.
I shared this for educational purposes, directed towards Kofi Dogbey and our viewers, to illustrate the essence of our conversation.”
As Mr Poku attempted to clarify his remarks, Benjamin intervened, firmly stating that he would only allow Mr Poku to speak when he deemed it appropriate.
He emphasized that any future attempts to divert the conversation in a similar manner would result in Mr Poku being banned from the show.
Reiterating the show’s purpose as a news review rather than an NDC mouthpiece, Mr Poku emphasized the importance of maintaining impartiality and focusing on the content of the newspapers being discussed.
The host intervened, highlighting his commitment to providing information for a balanced discussion, regardless of the political affiliations involved.
He reminded Mr Poku of previous instances where he had shared information favouring the NPP, emphasizing the need for objectivity in broadcasting.
Despite attempts to calm the situation, Benjamin reiterated the seriousness of maintaining decorum on the show and threatened to take strict action if similar behaviour recurred.
The NPP stalwart defended his stance, warning that the consequences would remain the same if the situation repeated.
In conclusion, the host praised their friendship while asserting the importance of mutual respect and constructive dialogue on the show.