NMC Rules Against ModernGhana and Class FM Over Unverified Publications

The National Media Commission (NMC) has delivered its decision on a complaint lodged by Adamus Resources Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Angela List, against online portal ModernGhana.com and Accra-based Class FM.

The complaint centred on publications the Complainants described as misleading, unverified, and damaging to Ms. List’s reputation.

In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. George Sarton, the NMC said its Complaints Settlement Committee held a constructive and cordial meeting with all parties on Wednesday, 3 September 2025.

Admissions by Respondents

During the engagement, representatives of ModernGhana.com admitted that they failed to contact the Complainants to verify or cross-check the stories before publication. They explained that one of the contested stories had originated from the Ghana News Agency, which they considered a credible source.

Class FM also acknowledged that it did not verify or cross-check the information before publishing and offered no justification for the lapse in journalistic standards.

Both media houses confirmed that, following intervention by a representative of the Complainants, they removed the stories in question. The Complainants, however, stressed that the publications caused significant reputational damage and raised concerns among their international partners. They added that although they prepared a rejoinder, it was not directly served on either media outlet.

Commission’s Findings

After reviewing the matter, the NMC concluded that:

Both Respondents violated basic journalistic ethics by failing to verify their information before publication, contrary to Articles 4 and 5 of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics (2017).

Although the initial stories were removed, ModernGhana.com and Class FM subsequently published related content

The Complainants lawfully exercised their right to issue a rejoinder under Article 162(6) of the 1992 Constitution; however, since the rejoinder was not delivered to the Respondents, they were not obligated to publish it.

Commission’s Directives

Based on the above, the NMC directed that: ModernGhana.com and Class FM must retract and/or remove all unverified publications concerning the Complainants. Any retraction must be given the same level of prominence as the original stories and both media outlets must publish a formal apology to the Complainants.

All retractions, removals, and apologies must be completed within seven (7) days of the Commission’s directive.

The NMC urged all parties to maintain the cordial atmosphere established during the settlement meeting, emphasizing that mutual respect and a commitment to ethical standards are vital to strengthening media practice and corporate relations in Ghana.

Source: expressnewsghana.com