The state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper has come under a scathing attack from the NDC Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, for what he claims to be favouring the opposition NPP.
The South Dayi MP was particularly critical of the Editor of the newspaper, Theophilus Yartey, accusing him of bias against the NDC.
Dafeamekpor’s attack on the Daily Graphic and its editor stemmed from a lead story published by the paper on Monday, February 7, 2025, with the headline, “ Aftermath of gov’t directive: Minority condemns job termination… but Majority leader says gov’t stands by decision”.
Mindset
Taking to his X account, Dafeamekpor said, “at a glance, you can tell the mindset of the Editor of the Daily Graphic.”
“The activities of the President and statements by the Majority Leader are actually editorially subsumed by the criticisms of the gov’t by the Minority Leader,” he added.
Past 8 years
The Majority Chief Whip said over the last eight years, he had not seen the Daily Graphic diminish the sitting Head of State or the Majority Leader of Parliament in favour of the opposition as it did. “As the Government Chief Whip, I am most unhappy by this unethical and open show of bias journalism by the Editors of the Daily Graphic against the NDC Govt.”
Free press
But, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, would not take lightly, the position of Dafeamekpor.
Responding on social media under headline, “A free press and constructive opposition are pillars of democracy”, Afenyo-Markin said while he respects the Majority Chief Whip’s right to express his views, “I find it deeply troubling that a simple front-page feature of the Minority’s legitimate concerns about mass job terminations is being questioned and framed as bias or an attempt to diminish the government”.
“He is attacking them simply because he believes their editorial choice does not serve his partisan interest,” he stated.
Freedom under NPP
Afenyo-Markin said under the NPP government, the Daily Graphic and other media platforms prominently featured the voices of the then-opposition NDC, including their numerous criticisms of government policies, adding, “not once did we call this unethical or seek to suppress alternative viewpoints. That is because a free press is not an extension of the ruling government—it exists to inform the public, hold power to account, and amplify diverse perspectives.”
He questioned, “Is the Majority now suggesting that media houses should only highlight the ruling party’s narrative while silencing the opposition? Do they seek an authoritarian system where divergent views and constructive opposition are stifled?“
