We sense dark clouds - GJA raises alarm over police move to station liaison officers at media outlets on Dec 7

The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) is demanding clarification on the decision by the Ghana Police Service to station officers at media houses for the December 7, 2024, general elections.

According to the President of the GJA, Albert Dwumfour, the decision to station liaison officers at media houses raises concerns about the security and safety of the media.

“One of the key issues is the promise made by the police administration to provide police media liaison officers at media houses for protection. While appreciating the initiative by the police administration to ensure the safety and security of media practitioners during the electioneering period, there are some pertinent concerns regarding the initiative by the police.

“First, is it a strategy to interfere with the work of the media? Is it a ploy to leak information from media houses? Which media houses have the police enlisted to detail its media liaison officers to? We can see some dark clouds surrounding this initiative by the police, and answers to these questions will clear the sky,” he is quoted in a report by 3news.com.

The decision by the Ghana Police Service to deploy liaison officers to media houses was announced during a recent meeting with selected editors.

However, according to the GJA president, the initiative lacks adequate stakeholder consultation.

“We have cause to believe that was deliberate rather than inadvertent, as the police try to avoid our role, eagle eye, and agility to protect and promote the interest of the media industry,” Dwumfour added.

GA/AE