In a strongly worded press statement issued today, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed its vehement condemnation of a violent attack on the studios of United Television (UTV), which took place last night during the broadcast of the popular entertainment show ‘United Showbiz.’

According to the NDC, a group of individuals purportedly affiliated with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) stormed the UTV studios, causing chaos and threats of violence against the show’s host and guests.

The incident has been described as an assault on press freedom and democratic values.

The NDC alleged that the attack was led by the Klottey Korle Youth Organizer of the NPP, acting under the orders of Ernest Owusu Bempah, a Deputy Director of Communications, and other prominent figures within the ruling party.

The NDC decried the attack as an act of intimidation and an attempt to silence dissenting voices.

Sammy Gyamfi, Esq., the National Communication Officer of the NDC, stated, “We in the NDC are deeply worried about the level of intolerance of dissenting views in Ghana today under the tyrannical Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government. We completely condemn the extent to which the ruling NPP is determined to go to institutionalize a culture of silence.”

The NDC further claimed that the attack followed recent antagonistic actions by high-ranking government officials and NPP members towards UTV and its ‘United Showbiz’ program.

They highlighted that the incident came after the NPP’s National Secretariat attempted to impose an editorial policy on the station and threats were made to shut it down.

The attackers allegedly justified their actions by asserting that they were defending President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, and the NPP from criticism by panelists on the program.

The NDC’s press statement also referenced a series of past attacks carried out by individuals associated with the NPP, including an assault on a pregnant judge in open court in Kumasi.

The NDC called on various organizations, including the Ghana Journalists Association, civil society groups, traditional leaders, and moral authorities, to denounce the attack and uphold the principles of free speech and democracy in the country.

The statement concluded with a demand for the Ghana Police Service to investigate the incident promptly and ensure that all those involved are prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The NDC vowed to closely monitor developments related to the case and insisted on justice being served.