GJA at war with South African High Commissioner

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has given Dr. Magan Mmereki Phologane, the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, seven days to apologise for his "undiplomatic" conduct in connection with the recent launch of the Ghana-South African Business Chamber.

An Accra newspaper, The Dispatch, reported in a front-page story last week that Dr. Phologane told Editor Ben Ephson: "as long as I remain the South African High Commissioner, any journalist who commented on the issue would never have a visa to South Africa". Ghanaian journalists severely criticised the treatment they received at the launch of the two-nation chamber. The Dispatch reported that the high commissioner's comment was a response to the journalists' criticism. The journalists association asked the high commissioner to confirm or deny the reports of the comment in the telephone conversation with The Dispatch editor.

Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, GJA President, gave the ultimatum at a press conference held in Accra to state the GJA's position on what it described as demeaning behaviour meted to its members during the event. The GJA President asked Dr. Phologane to retract his threat to deny visas, saying the association would pursue the issue if the high commissioner fails to respond within seven days. Mrs. Affenyi-Dadzie said if the report were true, it would seem to suggest that the high commissioner perceives the granting of visa to applicants who have legitimate business in South Africa as a favour. She said this was unfortunate at a time when the world had become a global village.

The GJA said the behaviour exhibited by officials at the launch of the chamber, at which pressmen accredited to cover the event were asked to vacate their seats, was intimidating. The journalists association said it regretted that although it had issued a press statement condemning the Ghana-South African Business Chamber, organisers of the event had not responded. The journalists were especially critical of Dr. Felix Frimpong, the chamber's president, and Miss Felicia Frimpong, the chamber's secretary. The chamber was launched during the recent visit of South African President Thabo Mbeki to Ghana.

The GJA therefore called on editors to put a news blackout on the Ghana-South Africa Business Chamber and all of its affiliated organisations. Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie warned individuals and organisations who "think the media in Ghana are mere pushovers" to change their perception and attitudes about the media.