Stakeholders in the media industry have sworn to now use legal means to fight persons who attack journalists in their line of duty.
This follows recent attacks on Adom FM’s Afia Pokua and two reporters, Shadrack Kofi Assan and Samuel Sefa at an NHIS office in the Ablekuma District as well as an order by the Accra Mayor, Alfred Vanderpuije to arrest three Multi TV journalists – Joojo Cobbinah, Festus Jackson-Davies and driver, Felix Akonnor.
There was also an attack on Daily Graphic’s Daniel Kenu in the Ashanti region, by Asamoah Gyan’s elder brother Baffour Gyan in Kumasi.
The National Media Commission, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, the Ghana Journalists Association and the Private Newspapers Publishers Association of Ghana jointly addressed a news conference warning the public to desist from such attacks on their staff.
Ghana Journalists Association President Affail Monney said the country’s 1992 Constitution guaranteed freedom and independence for the media.
“As a result, any attacks on the media constitute an attack on the democracy itself. This is why our four institutions stand united to use all appropriate measures within the law to fight impunity,” he said.
Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group, Ken Ashigbey challenged managers of media organisations to do more in dealing with people who assault their journalists.
General Secretary of the National Media Commission, George Sarpong also urged journalists to understand and respond to the dangers within the environment when carrying out their duties.
