Security agents have been found to be the most perpetrators of violence against Journalists. This was the outcome of Research conducted by the Media Foundation for West Africa, MFWA on Media Professionalism and safety of Journalists in Ghana between 2020 and 2021.
Physical attacks topped the types of violence against journalists, followed by arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as seizure and destruction of equipment. Kwaku Krobea Asante is the Programmes Manager at MFWA.
Mr. Kwaku Krobea Asante also reveals that about 90 percent of these breaches of media rights go unpunished.
The Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar said Government is committed to ensuring the safety of journalists. He said in situations where Journalists or Media Houses have been attacked, government has always reached out to them with the view of ensuring that justice is served them.
According to her, in furtherance of that, government has established the office of the Coordinated Mechanism of the Safety of Journalists. She however regrets that most Journalists do not patronise the office.
Madam Abubakar was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the forum on Media Professionalism and Safety of Journalists.