Author: Beyonce Diamond Kpogli
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Albert Kwabena Dwumfour at a press conference on Tuesday kicked against recent attacks on three (3) journalists in some parts of the country.
Mr. Dwumfour described these attacks as rampant and one too many.
He added that the GJA cannot fold its arms in silence as journalists continue to suffer such inhumane treatment in the line of their duty.
The GJA also urged the public to equally use constitutional means to resolve qualms with journalists instead of physical attacks.
According to Mr. Dwumfour, the constitution provided civil means through which people could institute actions against journalists whose work are not in line with the ethics of the profession.
Upper West Regional Chairman of the GJA, Mr. Suala Abdul Wahab, Ashanti Regional Correspondent of Ghana Television, Nicholas Osei-Wusu, and Angel FM Tema Correspondent, Augustine Ahiabor, were recently assaulted by security personnel and civilians while on duty.
Mr. Abdul Wahab was attacked for allegedly disobeying an Immigration Officer, Mr. Osei-Wusu, and had his camera taken and pictures of miners, who got trapped under a pit, deleted.
Mr. Ahiabor was attacked by some residents of Ashaiman for taking pictures of a toilet facility that had collapsed on some individuals.
The GJA President while condemning the attacks, called on the citizenry to respect and commend the contribution of journalists to the country’s socio-economic growth and advancement of democracy.
He charged the heads of the security agencies whose men attacked the journalists to bring the perpetrators to book.
Furthermore, Mr. Dwumfour called on the Interior Minister, Mr. Ambrose Derry, as a matter of urgency to act as he did in the alleged plot to remove the Inspector General of Police, Mr. George Akuffo Dampare.
The GJA President also cautioned journalists to be cautious in their work to avoid such attacks.
