The NDC Action Movement, a group sympathetic to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has hit back hard at journalist Paul Adom-Otchere for what it describes as his “flowery stupidity, opinionated and adversarial commentary” against Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana show yesterday, describing his actions as those of an NPP footsoldier.

In a statement issued by the group and signed by its leader, James Agbey and copied to MyNewsGh.com, the NDC Action Movement chides Mr. Adom-Otchere for not seeking to verify claims by Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings that food for the vulnerable was being shared on partisan considerations but proceeding to hurl invectives at her person.

“Adom-Otchere’s ill-informed and ill-conceived commentary aired on prime time TV in which he hurled invectives and was shamelessly spewing mindless drivel at the inimitable Dr. Zanetor Rawlings cannot pass for journalism. When someone tells a compelling and riveting story, or a major news breaks, a journalist doesn’t just believe it. A conscientious journalist always wants verification. Indeed, one of the journalistic canons is very clear on that; you must check the facts, cross-check, double-check and check again,” the statement read in part.

Many have called out Paul Adom-Otchere for attacking the person of Dr. Agyemang-Rawlings on his show instead providing evidence to refute her claims of a partisan sharing of food in her constituency.

Full statement of NDC Action Movement here

Paul Adom-Otchere’s flowery stupidity and adversarial commentary against Dr. Zanetor Rawlings

By NDC Action Movement

Friday April 16, 2020

The NDC Action Movement joins the totality of right thinking Ghanaians to condemn Paul Adom-Otchere’s flowery stupidity, opinionated and adversarial commentary against the member of parliament for Klottey Korle constituency, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings on Metro TV's 'Good Evening Ghana' show.

Adom-Otchere’s ill-informed and ill-conceived commentary aired on prime time TV in which he hurled invectives and was shamelessly spewing mindless drivel at the inimitable Dr. Zanetor Rawlings cannot pass for journalism.

When someone tells a compelling and riveting story, or a major news breaks, a journalist doesn’t just believe it. A conscientious journalist always wants verification. Indeed, one of the journalistic canons is very clear on that; you must check the facts, cross-check, double-check and check again.

Any self-respecting news organization always insists their fact checkers get it right in order to make sure that when a story goes to the press, everything is as correct as possible.

Sadly, objective reporting is dead in this country. It has given way to adversarial reporting and mercenary journalism.

If Paul Adom-Otchere were any credible journalist, he would have checked the veracity of Dr. Zanetor Rawlings’ statement and even taken the trouble to interview her to shed light on the issues before attempting to nail her on such a one sided partisan program.

Of course, one does not expect a witless and gutless journalistic alibino as Adom-Otchere to be a paragon of journalistic integrity, critical thinking, or ethical journalism, but aside everything, what happened to patriotism and nationalism?

Dr. Zanetor Rawlings is not the first to make comments with regards to partisanship in food distribution across areas affected by the lockdown .

The media have reported similar situations in other places. There are dozens of such report on social media and indeed, Ghanaweb put out a video report of a lady who had been denied food because she could not produce an NPP card as far back as 10th April, 2020. The NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Mr. John Dumelo had to locate the said lady and make donations to her following that report.

The MP for Ablekuma South Constituency, Dr. Oko Vanderpuije had to also go public about how food intended for the poor was being distributed in NPP vehicles under the direct supervision of the NPP candidate for that constituency.

Instead of Adom-Otchere engaging his audience with the facts as against Dr. Zanetor Rawlings’ claims, he chose the path of dirty propaganda.

If Adom-Otchere has any moral authority, he should go and address the lie he put out against the former host of Morning Starr on Starr FM, Robert Nii Arday Clegg, claiming that he wrote an Interim Assessment (IA) for him during their university days. This was a blatant lie told by Adom-Otchere and it took the timely intervention of Arday Clegg on live radio to expose Adom-Otchere for who he is; a con artist.

It is a shame how Adom-Otchere has transitioned from being a journalistic albino to a pedestrian NPP footsoldier.

We are aware that Adom-Otchere is just doing the bidding of others in damage control, but we want to caution him to be watchful of his steps. When you’ve got poop all over your feet, you don’t walk on a white rag.

We call on Dr. Zanetor Rawlings to not be distracted by such cheap characters.

Enough said.

Signed:
James Agbey (Leader)