Ms. Mary Mensah (middle) receiving the cheque from Mr. Robert Akoto Amoafo (second right).Whilst the GJA Excutives and Amnesty officials look on.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) yesterday joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to condemn the brutal murder of Saudi Arabian journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.
Dr Roland Affail Monney, President of GJA, described the act as a threat to the right and freedom of journalists and called on journalists to prioritise their life as against their profession when the need arises.
“The killing of Jamal Khashoggi reminds us of the need to fight for press freedom, which is essential to democracy, accountability for those crimes is non-negotiable and I urge relevant authorities to conduct thorough investigation into the crime and bring perpetrators to justice,” he said.
Dr Affail Monney expressed the sentiments when two institutions jointly presented a cheque of GHc100,000 in support of the 23rd GJA awards slated this Saturday at Kempinski Hotel in Accra.
The two institutions were World Vision International, Ghana, a non profit organisation and Amnesty International, a global movement which campaigns against human rights abuses.
Dr Monney indicated that although Ghana could boast of considerable progress in media freedom, there were still some concerns when it came to brutality and attacks on media personnel.
He recalled that one of Ghana’s budding and fearless journalists, Latif Idris, who worked with the Multi Media Group Limited, was beaten to pulp at the headquarters of the Ghana Police Service when he was gathering news for the public.
Speaking on how the association was dealing with the case, Dr Monney said a committee had been set to investigate the issue and hopefully on November 2, a day set aside to celebrate an end to Impunity against Journalists, the reports of the committee would have been ready.
He expressed gratitude to both organisations for their kind gesture.
The National Director of World Vision International, Ghana, Dickens Thunde presenting the cheque said the initiative formed part of efforts to recognise and reward hard working journalists who had churned out quality reports during the year.
Robert Akoto Amoafo, Director of Amnesty International Ghana, on his part, noted that “the media is the bridge between the rulers and the ruled, providing among others, vital information hence the concern of the organisation to support the media to build and sustain editorial integrity.”
By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley
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