NUGS Condemns Attack on Journalist

Monday, January 16, 2012

NUGS

Condemns Attack on Journalist (Attack on Gifty Lawson is Barbaric)

[Issued

by the National Union of Ghana Students]

The

National Union of Ghana Students, NUGS, has noted with grave concern, the

alleged molestation of the photo journalist, Gifty Lawson, at the Accra High

Court on 12th January, 2012, by operatives of the national security

of the state.

The

Union wishes to state in no ambiguous and unequivocal terms that the said act

was to say the least shameful, irresponsible and undeserving of a country

touted as the beacon of hope for the West African sub region and the African

continent as a whole as far as democracy is concerned. 12th January,

2012 was a day of shame for press freedom and democracy.

A

free and independent media without any fear of brutalities whether by the

security services or civilians is very critical for developing and growing our

young democracy. The media in Ghana has

contributed incalculably to the development of the democracy that we are all enjoying

today. It is therefore heinous that any group of people will visit any form of

attack on these progressive element of a democratic society such as ours. Any

attack on the freedom of the press is deemed subversive oppression and anti

democratic for which the students of Ghana will not countenance.

The

students of Ghana love the air of freedom in the country and as such are

calling on all Ghanaians to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the

peace of this country both present and future. The freedom that we are enjoying

today was won at a very high price and as such must be guarded with

uncompromising jealousy.

We

wish to reiterate the point as has been made by all other progressive forces to

the security service and all concerned that press freedom is essential for any

democracy to thrive. Indeed without press freedom, it would be near impossible

for any democracy to survive in today’s world.

NUGS

wishes to call on the President – Prof Evans Atta Mills to as a matter of

urgency constitute a committee to investigate the matter and bring the

perpetrators of this dastardly act to book to serve as a deterrent to others

who may deign to think that they can do anything in this country and go free.

This

issue deserves the same importance and urgency as the cocaine saga or probably

even more important, for without press freedom there will be no democracy.

In

conclusion, the National Union of Ghanaian Students is in full support of press

freedom and will always champion the course for it. That is what the National

Union of Ghana Students stood for over many years, and that is the tradition

that NUGS seeks to continue. The National Union of Ghana Students will

therefore resist any attempt to stifle press freedom and will always remain on

the side of press freedom and democracy.

Signed.

Peter

Kwasi

Kodjie

Courage Kwasi Nobi

(President-NUGS)

(Gen.

Secretary-NUGS)

(0242879028) (0206497320)

Tel:

+233 242879028

+233 209207555

Address:

P. O. Box TN 1293,

Accra, Ghana.

E-mail:

president@nugsgh.org

freekodjie@yahoo.com

freekodjie@gmail.com

Website:

http://www.nugsgh.org

http://www.peterkodjie4nugspresident.org