By: Murtala Issaha
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, has called on Ghanaian authorities to create a safe environment for Journalists and artists across the country.
The Country Representative of UNESCO, Abdourahmane Diallo, said this at a Consultative meeting with journalists in Tamale.
The meeting was organized by the National Media Commission, NMC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and UNESCO.
Attacks on journalists remain a major issue globally. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, report indicates that, in the last decade, 1 journalist is killed every 4 days.
In Ghana, even though journalists enjoy considerable freedoms, data suggests that Media Practitioners in the country are not very safe.
The UNESCO Representative in Ghana, Abdourahmane Diallo, expressed disappointment at the lack of commitment to prosecute and sanction perpetrators of crimes against journalists.
He cited the case of the late Investigative Journalist, Ahmed Suale and wondered why it has taken so long to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of his murder.
Concerned about the increasing attacks on journalists, the National Media Commission, NMC has come up with a framework to safeguard the Safety of Journalists.
Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong told GBC News that the framework seeks to prevent violence against journalists, protect those in danger and prosecute the perpetrators of attacks on media practitioners.
Chairman of the NMC, Yaw Boafo Ayeboafo, appealed to journalists to be responsible and professional in the discharge of their duties.
The Acting Northern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Yakubu Abdul Majeed and the Regional Chairman of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, GIBA, pledged their support towards the safety of journalists in the region in particular and the nation in general.