GJA Declares War On Media Attacks

Albert Dwumfour

 

The National Executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has expressed worries over the attacks on media practitioners for the past five years, and the body says it cannot allow the attacks against media practitioners and institutions to continue.

According to the GJA, ‘’We shall fight back fiercely against such attacks. And in so doing, we shall deploy our strongest weapons, including taking legal action, laying down our pens and microphones, and calling for a blackout on bodies (corporate and individual) that attack media practitioners or institutions’’.

The GJA President, Albert Dwumfour, said this at the 27th GJA Media Awards held on Sunday at the Accra International Conference center, on the theme, “Leveraging media freedom to sustain the democratic and security architecture! The litmus test of election 2024”.

Speaking at the event, he noted that ‘’Although the media are prepared to pass the litmus test of Election 2024 as far as sustaining the democratic and security architecture of the country is concerned, what is more worrying, which can gravely hurt our democratic and security architecture, if not checked, is attacks on media practitioners and media freedom’’.

He expressed that ‘’Within a spate of five years (2019-2023), we have recorded 45 cases of assault on media practitioners and institutions. This means nine such attacks occur every year. But in 2023, and although the year is yet to end, we have recorded 12 attacks, far more than the annual average of nine’’.

He added that ‘’The data is even worse in October 2023, having recorded an average of one attack per week. Per our records, the majority of these cases were not resolved. Certainly, the data is very alarming, and we fear that as we draw closer to Election 2024, it will be worse’’.

The GJA President added that these actions may not be palatable for the sustenance of our democratic and security architecture, but in the circumstances, they may be very helpful for the safety and security of journalists.

‘’We urge the three arms of State and other institutions that have the interest of the country’s democracy and security at heart to help address the impunity against the media,’’ he added.

He further noted that ‘’Whilst condemning attacks against the media, I must hasten to admonish media practitioners and institutions to be very professional in the discharge of their duties. The GJA does not, and will not, condone unprofessional conduct’’.

He said ‘’We will not shield or provide cover for deviants of professionalism. In the coming days or weeks, we shall roll out a monitoring mechanism based on which we shall call out media practitioners and institutions that lower the bar of professionalism’’.

He, therefore, urged media practitioners to “play a significant role in guaranteeing success in this test, but only under a media freedom regime that is conducive to the process.”

–BY Daniel Bampoe

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