The New Patriotic Party’s ongoing standoff with TV3 took a dramatic twist during a press conference when one of its top executives, Alhaji Masawudu Osman, forcefully knocked a TV3-branded microphone off the table. The action, which occurred in the presence of party leaders, sparked immediate public backlash and raised fresh concerns about the escalating friction between the NPP and Media General, the parent company of TV3.
The incident happened at a press briefing on April 16, 2025, and caught many off guard. Masawudu Osman, who is the 3rd National Vice Chairman of the party, carried out the act in full view of the press and fellow party executives. His move was met with visible disapproval from key figures, including the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alex Afenyo-Markin. Their reaction suggested that not everyone within the party supported such a hostile gesture, even amidst the media boycott.
The background to this development dates back to January 2025, when the NPP officially announced a boycott of all platforms under Media General. The party accused the media group of bias and unprofessional conduct in its political reporting. The final straw, according to party insiders, was an incident on a TV3 programme hosted by Keminni Amanor, where a guest allegedly made inflammatory remarks against former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
This latest disruption at the press conference has drawn criticism from multiple quarters. The Tamale News Agency condemned the event, stating that the party leadership had “disgraced themselves.” On social media, political commentator Alfred Ogbamey questioned the logic of inviting a media house to a press conference only to disrespect them publicly, describing the act as petty and uncalled for. Despite the uproar, the TV3 microphone was eventually placed back on the table following the intervention of the party’s General Secretary.
This public display of animosity is just one in a series of tensions between the NPP and Media General. Prominent party figures have taken legal action against Media General journalists, particularly Captain Smart, a broadcaster known for his outspoken commentary. Captain Smart, whose real name is Blessed Godsbrain Smart, is currently facing lawsuits from former Adansi Asokwa MP K.T. Hammond over alleged ethnocentric remarks and defamation. Earlier in the year, he was also sued by Deputy Inspector General of Police Christian Tettey Yohuno, who accused him of making false coup allegations.
Media General has been under legal fire from NPP affiliates before. In previous years, broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere and politician Francis Asenso-Boakye also filed defamation suits against the company and its journalists, seeking significant damages. Captain Smart was further investigated by the National Media Commission for claims that high-ranking officers in the Ghana Armed Forces had misappropriated peacekeeping funds.
These incidents underline a deepening mistrust between one of Ghana’s major political parties and one of its leading media houses. As the political atmosphere heats up towards future elections, observers fear that continued hostility between political entities and the press could undermine democratic discourse and media freedom in the country.
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