The National Media Commission (NMC), has directed online news portal ModernGhana.com and Accra-based Class FM to retract and apologise for publications concerning Adamus Resources Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Angela List, after ruling that the outlets breached journalistic ethics.
The directive follows a complaint filed by Adamus Resources and Ms. List, who argued that the publications were misleading, unverified, and damaging to her reputation.
On September 3, 2025, the NMC’s Complaints Settlement Committee met with all parties. According to the Commission, the engagement was cordial and constructive. During the meeting, representatives of ModernGhana.com admitted that they did not contact the complainants to verify or cross-check the information before publishing. They explained that one of the stories originated from the Ghana News Agency, which they assumed was a credible source.
Class FM similarly acknowledged that it failed to verify or cross-check the information and offered no justification for the lapse. Despite later removing the stories after a representative of the complainants intervened, both media outlets continued to publish related content.
The complainants stressed that the publications caused significant reputational damage, triggering concerns from international partners. They also clarified that although they issued a rejoinder, it was not directly served on the two media houses.
After reviewing the case, the NMC concluded that:
Both media outlets violated Articles 4 and 5 of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics, 2017, by failing to verify information.
Although the Respondents removed the initial stories, they subsequently published related content.
While the Complainants had the constitutional right to issue a rejoinder under Article 162(6) of the 1992 Constitution, the Respondents were not obligated to publish it since it was not formally served on them.
The NMC has therefire ordered ModernGhana.com and Class FM to:
1. Retract or remove all unverified publications concerning the Complainants, ensuring that any retraction carries the same prominence as the original story.
2. Publish a formal apology to Adamus Resources Limited and Ms. Angela List.
3. Complete all retractions, removals, and apologies within seven days of the Commission’s ruling.
The NMC further encouraged all parties to maintain the mutual respect demonstrated during the settlement meeting. It reiterated that ethical journalism and constructive corporate-media engagement remain essential to strengthening public trust and professional standards in Ghana’s media landscape.
