The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is strongly urging the Ghana Police Service to promptly arrest and prosecute the individuals associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who assaulted a reporter from Citi FM/TV.
This incident occurred while she was covering the vetting of aspirants for the party’s Odododiodio Constituency primary on October 13, 2023.
The GJA vehemently condemned the attack on Akosua Otchere, who was merely performing her duties as a journalist.
‘’We call upon both state and non-state actors, as well as the international community, to denounce this reprehensible act,” the association said in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah.
According to GJA, the events that transpired at the offices of the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the NDC on Friday were an act of senselessness that should not be tolerated within our political landscape.
“We implore the Police to take swift action to apprehend and prosecute the individuals responsible.
“Such actions are crucial to purify the political arena, especially concerning assaults on media professionals by political actors,” the GJA said.
It added: “For the record, it is important to emphasise that the Citi FM/TV News Team was present at the NDC Regional Office to fulfill a public-interest obligation, and they were appropriately and professionally identified as journalists.”
Given the circumstances, ‘’we expected the party’s leadership or the party as an institution to shield the news team from harm, and for these individuals to refrain from targeting them amidst their internal party disputes,” the statement said.
The GJA acknowledged the press statements issued by the NDC’s regional and national leadership, in which they condemned the attack on the journalist, expressed remorse for the “highly irresponsible” behaviour, and pledged to take action against those within their party who engaged in said reprehensible act.
“While we await concrete actions beyond these statements from the regional and national leadership of the party, the GJA wishes to make it clear that, moving forward, any assaults on journalists and the media will be met with the most vigorous response at our disposal,” the association asserted in its statement.
The GJA has already mobilised its legal team and is preparing to meet with the Inspector-General of Police on Monday to discuss pressing matters, including the recent attacks on the Citi FM/TV journalist and UTV.
“As we gear up for the 2024 election season, the GJA will use all legal means available to hold political actors and individuals accountable for any attacks on journalists,” it noted.
“We call on political parties, in particular, and all stakeholders to educate their members about the importance of refraining from assaulting journalists and to direct their grievances, if any, through the appropriate channels as dictated by the rule of law, as practiced in civilised societies.
“Once again, we encourage journalists and media practitioners not to be intimidated by such attacks. Instead, we must defy them and remain steadfast in our commitment to the public interest.
“The media will continue to act as a vital link between the government and the people, and no individual or group will be permitted to undermine that connection, regardless of the tactics they may employ,” the GJA statement said.
