GJA condemns attacks on reporter

Accra, 26 Aug. GNA - Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has condemned the attack on an Adom FM reporter at a New patriotic Party congress held at the Trade Fair Centre on Saturday.

A bodyguard of former President John Agyekum Kufuor reportedly assaulted Afia Pokuah when she attempted to interview the former president.

Speaking during the presentation of laptops and its accessories donated by MTN to the 34 winners of the 14th GJA awards, Mr Tetteh said attacks on reporters during political events were becoming rampant.

"Assaults on journalists are becoming rampant and the GJA is very unhappy with that", he said.

Mr. Tetteh said although the GJA had accepted an apology from the Office of the former President, GJA would be more than happy to know that something concrete was done to stem the rampant assault on reporters.

He also condemned assault on a journalist during the re-run of the parliamentary election in six polling stations in Akawtia and urged all Civil Society Organizations and well meaning Ghanaians to voice their displeasure as a way of stopping such attacks.

Mr. Tetteh thanked the invited guests who attended the recent GJA Awards ceremony especially Vice President John Dramani Mahama, Ms Anna Bossman, the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ and Mrs Zita Okaikoi, the Minister of Information.

Ms. Efua Falconer, External Relations Manager of MTN pledged the network's continuous support for excellence in journalism. She said in addition to the awards given to the winners, Mr. Maurice Quansah from the Daily Graphic who won the Sports Journalist of the Year would, as part of his package, be sponsored by MTN to attend the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Mr. Charles Benoni Okine, winner of the ICT and Telecom Award, would also enjoy an all expenses paid trip to South Africa to participate in a Highway Africa conference. Ms. Falconer said as part of its commitment to its customers, the Network had come out with a new package that would give 31 customers the opportunity to win prizes every week. Every week a subscriber would be given the opportunity to drive home a new Kia Sorento vehicle from Rana Motors with another getting the opportunity to go to South Africa to watch the 2010 World Cup. "All that you have to do is text GO to 2010 on MTN and you could be one of our lucky winners," she said.

Mr. Muhammed Baba Yakubu, Public Relations Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Yendi, and Mr. Emmanuel Amoako of the Daily Graphic were given mobile phones for their correct prediction of the Journalist of the Year and Sports Reporter of the Year respectively.