DR. K.K. SARPONG vs. THE DAILY POST [2011]DLNMC6251

Date	2011-03-01
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2011]DLNMC6251

<p class="mb-5" id="contentDlCitation"  hidden>[2011]DLNMC6251</p>
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:#00B050">DR. K.K. SARPONG<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:#00B050">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:#00B050">THE DAILY POST<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><span class="None"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
color:windowtext">[NATIONAL MEDIA COMMISSION]</span></b></span><span class="None"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;
mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">(2011) NMC DLR 002&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<b>&nbsp;DATE</b>: 1 ST MARCH 2011<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">DECISION
GIVEN BY: <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;border:none;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">AMBASSADOR
KABRAL BLAY-AMIHERE (CHAIRMAN NMC)<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Dr.
K.K. Sarpong, the former Chief Executive of TOR on October 13, 2009, lodged a
complaint against the DAILY POST for a series of .publications in issues # 82;
83, 84· of-its Volume 1. The complaint stated among other things that the; allegations
made in these stories were not “unfounded but also that no attempt was made to
contact him for a denial or otherwise of the allegations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The
first story carried by the Daily Post on October 7, 2009 with the headline-
“ARREST THIS MAN: his· name is Dr. K.K. Sarpong, former MD of Terna Oil
Refinery, Accused of; chopping TOR money ‘Waa Waa ; Cannot Account for 437
million dollars of Tema Oil Refinery money.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The
second story on October 8, 2009 headlined; Tema Oil Refinery Debts-Why OMCS
cannot be blamed, NPP and KK Sarpong to blame.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In
consonance with procedures of the NMC Complaints Settlements regulations, the
paper was duly informed about the complaint but chose to continue with its
publications on the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In
two separate letters dated November 16, 2009 and January 11, 2010 the
solicitors of Dr. K.K. Sarpong complained that the Daily Post was still
publishing stories containing&amp;#39; more disparaging remarks· about “ our
client”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The
Daily Post and its editor were given every opportunity to present their side of
their side of the story and defend their allegations but failed to do at
several meetings summoned for the purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It
is the view of the NMC that the Daily Post contravened a basic rule enshrined
in the Code of Ethics of the Ghana Journalists Association under Article 1(iii)
that ;A JOURNALIST SHOULD MAKE ADEQUATE INQUIRIES AND CROSS CHECK HIS OR HER
FACTS.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The
Daily Post did not follow this fundamental rule and that deprived the public
their right to unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>

</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The
Daily Post is hereby directed to abide by the professional obligations of
journalists and accordingly retract and render apology to the complainant.<o:p></o:p></span></p></span></main>