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Introduction
An account on Facebook, allegedly managed by “Allotey Jacobs,” claimed that TV3 received a payment of ₵6 billion (approximately $400 million) to make the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, unpopular ahead of the December 7 elections.
The allegation, attributed to an account claiming to be managed by Allotey Jacobs, described as a “truth sayer” and “former Central Regional NDC Chairperson,” has gone viral.
What is the claim?
The post insinuated that TV3, a prominent media house in Ghana, was financially influenced to discredit Bawumia, the then-ruling NPP’s presidential candidate, during the electoral season.
The claim gained traction after being shared on multiple platforms, including X (formerly Twitter).
One screenshot of the post on X amassed over 80,000 views, with numerous users expressing their opinions on the alleged misconduct, the social media platform revealed.
TV3’s Legal Response:
A cease-and-desist letter issued by TV3 Network Limited on December 20, 2024, categorically denied the allegations.
The letter, signed by Sena Edekor, Head of Legal, demands the immediate removal of what he described as a “defamatory post” and renders an unqualified apology.
TV3 described the claim as “unfounded, malicious, and calculated to cause harm” to the media outlet’s reputation.
The media network further threatened legal action should their demands not be met within “three days.”
DUBAWA’s Investigations
DUBAWA contacted Allotey Jacobs, the former Central Regional NDC Chairperson purportedly behind the controversial post. He, however, denied making such a post.
Allotey told DUBAWA he was not the owner of the Facebook account, describing it as “a fake account” that had impersonated him for months.
Again, the politician said he had reported the matter to the Ghana Police Service Cybercrime Unit to arrest the person behind the account.
He told DUBAWA that he has also issued a disclaimer on some platforms to debunk this particular ₵6 billion allegation.
Meanwhile, DUBAWA’s investigations revealed no credible documentation or financial records to support the claim. The accusation lacks verifiable proof of transactions or agreements between TV3 and the alleged political entity.
Conclusion
The claim that TV3 was paid 6 billion Ghana Cedis to tarnish Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s image ahead of the 2024 elections is unsubstantiated. While political bias in media coverage remains a topic of debate in Ghana, there is no concrete evidence to support the allegation of financial inducement in this case.
