The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is calling for serious action against perpetrators of attacks on journalists, describing these incidents as premeditated and deliberate. GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour emphasised that these attacks are not random or spontaneous but rather planned and executed with intent.
“Usually, issues of such attacks and assaults are premeditated. These are not issues we should take for granted. Before anybody plans to attack a journalist in the line of duty, it is either that it has been planned already, determined. They had already planned that today we’re going to do A, B, C, D, and premeditated must be seen as a very serious offence, not a misdemeanour case,” Dwumfour stated.
Recent incidents include the assault of a GHOne TV reporter during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun and the attack on JoyNews reporter Carlos Calony and his cameraman during a demolition exercise at Spintex. These incidents have sparked widespread concern over press freedom and journalist safety in Ghana.
The GJA has issued a stern warning to law enforcement agencies, threatening a nationwide media blackout on police activities if urgent and concrete measures are not taken to protect journalists and hold perpetrators accountable. Dwumfour emphasized the need for thorough investigations and justice to be served to deter future incidents.
