Court fines 16 UTV invaders Ghc.2400 each on their own plea

The Achimota Magistrate Court has convicted and fined each of the sixteen sympathizers of the NPP who invaded the studios of the United Television (UTV) on Saturday October 7, 2023. 

All 16 individuals were severally fined a total of 200 penalty units each, amounting to Ghc2400 per person.

The infamous 16 were charged for conspiracy to commit a crime and rioting. Upon their guilty pleas, the court proceeded to convict them for their actions.

On the aforementioned Saturday, while UTV's prime-time entertainment show, 'United Showbiz,' was underway, the group of thugs entered the studio, disrupting the live program.

The group's ire stemmed from an incident in which A Plus, a panellist on the show, tore a letter from the NPP leadership requesting reforms to the United Showbiz panel.

The attack on UTV was widely condemned by various organizations, including the Ghana Journalists Association and the Information Ministry. The invasion of NPP-affiliated individuals was seen as an affront to press freedom and free expression.

In response to the incident, the National Chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ntim and Director of Communications, took the initiative to extend an unreserved apology to the management of UTV. Chairman Ntim publicly disapproved of the actions of the NPP-affiliated individuals, a gesture intended to distance the party from the unlawful act.