The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has fired shots at the state-owned Daily Graphic over its front-page publication of strike action by doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
In a post on X, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor argued that a state-sponsored media outlet should highlight government achievements and positive developments rather than deliberately highlighting on its front page about strike action by KATH doctors.
The Majority Chief Whip suggested that the Daily Graphic could have prioritised coverage of President Mahama’s visit to Britain and Belarus.
In a post on X, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor wrote, “This is the front page of the Daily Graphic. A govt- sponsored newspaper that has, for some strange reasons, decided to gloss over major positive government activities but instead focuses on negative happenings.
As we speak, the Prez is in Europe seeking investments from the British and Belarusians for the Nation. A major news item
As we speak, the Vice President has toured some flood-prone areas in Accra and visited Alajo in the company of the Interior Minister, GAR Minister, Accra Mayor, etc. A major news item
As we speak, the government has successfully evacuated nearly 1000 Ghanaians stranded in South Africa due to xenophobic attacks. A major news item
Yet, the Editor of the Daily Graphic has once again deliberately decided to highlight on its front page a strike action by KATH doctors because the CEO has been suspended by the KATH Board for some alleged administrative misjudgments pending investigations. Nobody is above the law. We are all subject to the discipline of the law.
So for the Daily Graphic to highlight what’s really a disciplinary issue and render major govt policy moves as footnotes on its front page is journalistically most undesirable.
I leave it here…….”.
A Ghanaian journalist, Gary Al-Smith, reacting to the MP’s post, stated, “What the Graphic have on their front page is, arguably, of more interest to the AVERAGE Ghanaian than all the other suggestions in your write-up.
The paper’s fidelity is, first and foremost, to the average Ghanaian, before it is to the government who sponsor(s) it”.
Also, some Ghanaians reacting to the Majority Chief Whip’s comments stated, “Focusing on systemic rot in a deplorable country is what a state-owned media outlet should do, not parroting vague supposedly positive happenings. Whining about it is irrelevant.
President seeking (basically begging with a bowl) for investments is not a major news item”.
One X user added, “Respectfully, issues bordering public health first before government popularity. Hon.@etsedafeamekpor, you are above pettiness. You can’t fault @Graphicgh on this”.
A netizen added, “Very appalling for such a newspaper to close its eyes to positive, progressive issues and rather focus on reactionary issues. Very disgraceful”.
“Sorry, sir, it’s the citizen-sponsored newspaper, and the citizens have the right to know what’s going on in the health sector, as they can’t afford the premium hospitals in and outside Ghana when they’re sick. Enough of the prioritisation of party image over the country’s interest”, a netizen added.
A netizen added, “The negative is part of the happenings in government. How much did the president bring from his trip to solve the KATH inadequate infrastructure issue?
Making the government look clean is not the job of the Daily Graphic”.
One last X user noted, “The implication seems to be that a strike action at KATH, with all its potential consequences for patients, should be overshadowed by concerns about government optics. Shouldn’t the focus be on reporting the facts rather than shaping a narrative that favours one government?”
See the post below:
1. This is the front page of the Daily Graphic. A govt- sponsored newspaper that has for some strange reasons decided to gloss over major positive govt activities but instead focus on negative happenings.
— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) June 9, 2026
2. As we speak, the Prez is in Europe seeking investments from the… pic.twitter.com/qjqjxtVTlZ
