The Achimota District Court has sentenced 16 persons who invaded the United Television (UTV) premises last week to a fine of GH¢2,400 each.
In default, they would serve three months imprisonment each.
They were also ordered by the court to sign a bond to be of good behaviour and in default, serve six months imprisonment in hard labour.
The 16 persons were charged for being on the premises for unlawful purpose. They admitted the offence and were, therefore, convicted on their own pleas and sentenced accordingly.
The court heard that the 16 accused, now convicts, invaded the UTV studios at Tesano on October 7, 2023.
The court was told that they were arrested following reports by the management of UTV and the Ministry of Information.
On October 7, 2023, the convicts entered the UTV studios and disrupted a live programme and were arrested by the police.
It is recalled that 16 persons were arrested by the police two weeks ago for allegedly invading the studios of UTV, a private media house, in Accra, disrupting a live programme.
In videos that have gone viral, many men were seen in the studios of the Akan television station during the telecast of United Showbiz, an entertainment programme, resulting in an abrupt half of the show.
They were demanding the removal of a panelist, Kwame Asare Obeng, also known as Kwame A-Plus, from the show for some actions and comments on the previous edition which they found unsatisfactory.
A statement issued by the Ghana Police Service on its verified Facebook page on Saturday night, said the suspects were arrested following a complaint by Despite Media Group, owners of UTV, and the Ministry of Information. —GNA
