By Francis Kobena Tandoh
The government has directed the Minister for Defence and National Security Coordinator to conduct a full-scale investigation into an attempted arrest of a JoyNews reporter and assault of an eyewitness, according to a statement released here by the presidency on Wednesday.
According to a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson to the president and minister for government communications, the government condemns such actions.
“The government condemns the attempted arrest of a JoyNews reporter and the assault of an eyewitness by a soldier at a demolition site. Such actions are utterly unacceptable to the John Mahama administration and have no place in our democratic society,” read the statement.
“The government has accordingly directed the Minister for Defence and the National Security Coordinator to investigate the incident and ensure that the appropriate punishment is immediately imposed. Appropriate disciplinary and punitive measures must be applied without delay to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences,” added the statement.
A JoyNews journalist was reportedly assaulted while on duty at a demolition exercise at a warehouse linked to businessman Daniel Mckorley, popularly known as McDan.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the assault are still emerging, but it has sparked widespread public outcry and condemnation from media stakeholders.
However, the government expressed deep concern over the attack, emphasizing its commitment to press freedom and the safety of journalists.
“The government does not condone acts of violence against journalists or any citizen. We reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding media freedom as a cornerstone of our democracy.”
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), and various media houses have demanded swift action and accountability.
There are renewed calls for improved protection mechanisms for journalists and stronger enforcement of laws against press freedom violations.
This incident adds to a growing list of concerns regarding press freedom and journalist safety in Ghana, which has seen a drop in global press freedom rankings in recent years. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
Find the statement released by the Presidency Communications below:
