The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has expressed worry over recent attacks perpetrated by political thugs on journalists, urging the media to enforce the GJA media blackout directive on the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson.
GIBA, in a statement dated January 29, signed by its president, Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, said it is “alarmed” by the fresh attacks on media personnel, whose perpetrators usually go unpunished. According to GIBA, this has emboldened the perpetrators to carry on such acts of hooliganism.
The statement cited the attacks on a journalist with Cape Coast-based Cape FM in the Central Region, David Kobbena, by thugs associated with Hon. Hawa Koomson and Citi FM’s reporter in the Northern Region, Mohammed Aminu Alariba, during the NPP parliamentary election coverage in the Yendi constituency.
Aminu Alariba was reportedly assaulted by the incumbent Member of Parliament for the Yendi constituency, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, and his supporters.
“We at GIBA are especially alarmed because the two latest attacks took place during electioneering activities and may possibly be foreshadowing how journalists and media practitioners could be treated in this election year if immediate actions are not taken to reverse and halt this unfortunate trend.”
“Perpetrators are becoming emboldened because these acts of hooliganism and spate of attacks on journalists go unpunished. The Government and the Ghana Polic Service (GPS) need to put their foot down, identify and sanction all perpetrators, without fear or favour, to send out a clear signal to all and any future miscreants that these barbaric acts cannot be countenanced in our beloved country, Ghana,” the statement added.
“Although these incidents have been widely condemned by the GJA, GIBA, PRINPAG, and the MFWA, we believe that more serious action needs to be taken by the fraternity to ensure the protection and safety of all our members. We cannot continue to reward perpetrators by not sending strong and clear signals that they will face consequences for their actions.
“It is in this light that we stand in total solidarity with the GJA’s call to impose a total media blackout on Mavis Hawa Koomson in her capacity as Member of Parliament for the Awutu-Senya East constituency and Minister of State in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development,” the statement concluded.