Josiah
Albert Dwumfour, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has called for an end to attacks and brutality against members of the Fourth Estate. Every November 2 is designated as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
In observance of this day, Albert Dwumfour, the President of GJA, has emphasized the concerning deterioration in press freedom and journalist safety in Ghana. This decline is particularly troubling given that Ghana was once lauded globally as a model of democracy and media freedom in Africa.
The Ghana Journalists Association has documented a disturbing 45 cases of assaults and attacks on media professionals and media organizations between 2019 and 2023. The upward trend in such incidents indicates that 2023 has witnessed the highest number of cases per year, with October 2023 setting a regrettable record of having the highest number of incidents in a single month, totaling four cases.
Mr. Dwumfour stated, “We call on the Attorney-General and the Police to bring forth the necessary charges against those who engage in such acts of impunity, ensuring that maximum penalties are imposed upon them. We also urge the Judiciary not to show leniency to convicts of such crimes in order to deter others from following the same path.”
The GJA marks this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with the hope that it will serve as a crucial step in Ghana’s efforts to combat crimes against journalists and reinstate the nation’s commitment to media freedom and justice.
Source:Omanghana.com
