CJA Sues Government And 3 TV Stations

The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) has a filed a writ at an Accra Fast Track High Court suing the government and three television stations. The three stations are Ghana Television, Metropolitan Television and TV3, and are being sued for continuing to broadcast an advert by the government that contains a video footage of demonstration organized by the CJA. The advert depicts the demonstrators carrying with a voice over stating that the people need jobs and appeals to Ghanaians to supports a proposed talk time tax by the government. The CJA says the advert smacks of deception as members are against the talk time tax and other fiscal policies of the government. Members of the committee say the use of the video footage is a disingenuous way of deceiving the public into believing that the CJA supports the talk time tax. The committee is therefore praying the court to restraint the government and the three television stations from broadcasting the advert. Speaking to Joy News, a leading member of the committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the CJA was also praying the court to use its discretion to grant the committee any remedies it may deserve. A Senior Lecturer at the Marketing Department of the University of Ghana, Bob Hinsin said it was not property to use materials concerning a person without permission. He explained other creative communication tools could have been used to get Ghanaians to accept the tax.