ACCRA – The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is demanding an immediate retraction and apology from the General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum, following threats he made against journalists. The GJA held a press conference at the Ghana International Press Centre on Friday to address the issue, calling Dr. Tenkorang-Twum’s comments “reckless and dangerous.”
The controversy stems from an interview Dr. Tenkorang-Twum gave in June where he accused journalists of “unprofessional media reportage” and stated that those who had “marked” nurses would “be shown” when they visit hospitals. He said, “I said they will come and meet us in the hospital and we will show them that we are professionals.” The GJA’s statement denounced these remarks as a “blatant threat of violence” and an attempt to intimidate the media.
The GJA is giving Dr. Tenkorang-Twum five days to retract his comments and issue a public apology. If he fails to do so, the association plans to petition the National Media Commission, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and international press freedom organizations. The GJA also called on the GRNMA leadership to publicly distance itself from the comments, warning that their silence would be seen as an endorsement.
In its statement, the GJA also addressed the media itself, criticizing some journalists for unethically circulating an old video of Dr. Tenkorang-Twum’s comments and falsely linking it to a recent incident at Ridge Hospital. The association reminded its members to adhere to the GJA’s Code of Ethics, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and contextual reporting to maintain public trust.
The GJA’s press conference also touched on the upcoming by-election in Akwatia, calling on the police to be the lead security agency and urging journalists to cover the event professionally and ethically. The association also called on the military to release the preliminary findings of an investigation into the attack on a journalist earlier in the year.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
