Lens editor apologises for calling parliament "den of thieves"

Lens editor apologises for calling parliament "den of thieves" The Editor of the Lens News Paper Kobby Fiagbe has apologized to Parliament for bringing the name of the house into disrepute. The paper on its June 3, 2009 edition described parliament as a “den of thieves.” He accused some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communication of extorting GH¢ 1000.00 from telecommunication networks in the country. A member of that Committee and the Minority Chief Whip, Frederick Opare Ansah outraged by the publication filed a complaint before the leadership of parliament for appropriate remedies. After a hearing held in camera on Tuesday, Mr Fiagbe admitted apologizing for the publication. The remorseful editor said the publication was not intended to malign the House of Parliament. “I rendered an unqualified apology to the generality of parliament because I have been given to understand and I believe that understanding is true that the publication created the impression of the whole of parliament as a den of thieves. First of all that was not the impression we sought to create by the publication and to the extent that we erroneously created that impression, we are very very apologetic and we rendered an unqualified apology to parliament on that matter,” he told Joy News parliamentary correspondent, Araba Coomson. On the substantive allegations, the editor said he is reluctant to give details but hinted “things will unfold” when the case is recalled. The case has been adjourned indefinitely. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com