Ablakwa threatens legal action over a “fake” GNPC scholarship list, to which Johnnie Hughes apologizes.
Ablakwa threatens legal action over a “fake” GNPC scholarship list, to which Johnnie Hughes apologizes.
An incident involving broadcast journalist Johnnie Beresford Hughes has caused controversy in the world of Ghanaian politics and journalism.
Hughes, a Media General employee, allegedly shared a document on social media on April 13, 2024, containing the names of recipients of the GNPC Foundation Foreign Scholarship Programme.
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Distinguished members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, John Jinapor, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, were listed.
The job was made during a period when the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat’s scholarship distribution was under closer examination, especially regarding applicants’ ties to the government and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
When it was revealed that opposition politicians were involved in similar scandals, there was a huge backlash and those named simply denied any involvement.
In reaction, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa underlined the gravity of the reputational harm suffered and alluded to possible legal action as a result of the erroneous linkage.
Hughes apologised publicly on social media after receiving a lot of criticism and legal threats.
He added that his goal was not to implicate any of the people on the list in wrongdoing, but rather to maybe draw comparisons to the current “SCHOLARSHIP BONANZA” story that The 4th Estate has been covering.
Hughes apologised in his apologies, pointing out that his initial tweet was not malicious, but he did concede that the way it was presented and the absence of a clear context could have caused misunderstandings.
He promised to wait for an official comment from GNPC, expressed remorse for any anguish caused, and reaffirmed his commitment to responsible journalism by noting the accused parties’ responses.
The episode emphasizes how careful journalists must be in striking a balance between the risks associated with publishing unverified material and conducting investigative reporting, particularly in politically sensitive situations.
The public and journalism community are reminded of the powerful combination of politics, media, and the power of a post as Hughes takes a step back to consider the consequences of his actions.
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