GJA petitions IGP on assault on journalists

Accra, Dec. 15, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Tuesday condemned the attack on journalists in Sunyani last Saturday during the BA@50 Awards Ceremony and petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr Paul Quaye, to order an investigation into the matter. A statement signed by Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of GJA, said the complaint the GJA had received from its Brong-Ahafo Regional Branch alleged assault on some of its members during the event. "We believe the 1992 Constitution provides a reliable framework to deal with breaches by the media. The attack on the media can therefore not be justifiable," the statement said.

It noted that the attack was an indication that there were still people who were highly intolerant of the media and ready to take the law into their own hands in resolving their differences with the media. "This does not augur well for our democracy and the security apparatus must act swiftly to avoid any further occurrence of such incidents," the GJA said.

It asked the leadership of the Regional Coordinating Council as event organizers to also conduct their own investigations into the matter and bring to book officials that might be guilty of misconduct. "The (GJA) National Executive will closely monitor developments in the coming days to decide on further steps necessary," the statement said. Meanwhile, members of the Brong-Ahafo Regional branch of the GJA have resolved to boycott all official functions of the Regional Co-ordinating Council and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) until further notice. The association said it would reverse its decision if the culprits in last Saturday's physical attack on journalists were arrested and brought to book.

A number of reporters were allegedly beaten up by some NDC members and supporters at the B/A@50 awards ceremony in Sunyani during which the ex-President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings were the guests of honour.

The association condemned the attack, saying it was unwarranted and should be condemned by all right-thinking Ghanaians. It said the assault on Mr. Motey of the Ghanaian Times, Mr. Moses of TV Africa, Mr. Dennis Peprah of the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah of Daily Graphic and Michael Boateng of the Chronicle was unwarranted and should be condemned.

The statement said the attackers snatched two mobile phones and a wrist watch from Mr. Ampratwum-Mensah and Mr. Moses, whilst the wallet of Mr. Peprah, his reporter's notebook and that of Mr. Motey were also forcefully taken away.

The regional association expressed regret that none of the dignitaries at the function "restrained their members as they callously beat Mr. Dennis Peprah to pulp". The statement said the irate mob smashed the side screen of a taxi cab that wanted to whisk Mr. Peprah away.