By Celectine Avi
When the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), engaged the inky fraternity in Accra on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, the call was for the Interior Minister, Mr. Ambrose Dery to take quick action against the incessant attacks on Journalists.
The GJA President, Mr. Albert Dwumfour, said the Association expects Mr. Dery to promptly take action, just as he did in his reaction to the IGP’s leaked tape. He believes this will ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
In focus was the recent attack on the Upper West Regional Chairman of GJA and GBC staff, Mr. Sualah Abdul-wahab by an Immigration Officer, the Ashanti Regional Correspondent of GTV, Nicholas Osei-Owusu, by police officers, and Angel FM’s Tema Regional Correspondent, Augustine Ahiabor, by Residents of Ashaiman.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Albert Dwumfour, said the conduct of the uniformed Officers was highly unprofessional and a gross misconduct, which warrants severe sanctions.
Mr. Dwumfour said Journalists see men in uniform ”as partners in development”, in ensuring that governance and the rule of law are upheld, and therefore view their actions against journalists as a deliberate attempt to gag journalists.
He called on the Interior Minister, Mr. Ambrose Dery, to act swiftly to deal with the matters, just as he did in his reaction to the IGP’s leaked tape.
The Association also called on the government to adequately resource the National Media Commission (NMC), to effectively carry out its mandate of monitoring and regulating media content in a proactive manner.