The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a stern warning to the Ghana Police Service, demanding immediate action within seven days to address the rising number of attacks on journalists. The ultimatum follows recent incidents, including the Ablekuma North case and the MacDan warehouse demolition, which the GJA says highlight a lack of accountability and protection for media professionals.
At a press conference organized by the Association Today, the GJA is demanding a detailed update on all investigations into attacks on journalists over the past seven months. The association also wants a public report on the prosecution of the police officer involved in the Ablekuma North incident, including court timelines and proceedings.
The GJA is also calling for clear disciplinary sanctions against any officer or individual who has assaulted a journalist and a list of specific measures the police service is implementing to prevent future attacks and to train officers on respecting press freedom. Failure to meet these demands, the GJA warns, will lead to a boycott of all police-related activities by media houses, and the police will be declared “enemies of Press Freedom.”
Beyond the police, the GJA is also taking a multi-faceted approach to hold offenders accountable. The association plans to engage with international embassies, including those of the United States and the United Kingdom, to urge them to deny or revoke visas for security officers who have attacked journalists. The GJA will also write to international bodies such as the United Nations, UNESCO, the African Union, and ECOWAS to demand that media rights violators be denied international postings and peacekeeping opportunities. Additionally, the GJA will petition the Ghana Armed Forces Council and The Police Council to disqualify offending officers from promotions.
The GJA will also launch a public shaming campaign, publishing the names, ranks, and photos of identified attackers in major newspapers and online platforms for one year, labeling them “Enemies of Democracy and Press Freedom.” The association is also launching a “Press Freedom Blacklist” to name individuals and institutions involved in the repression of journalism in Ghana. The GJA is calling on all civil society organizations and human rights institutions to stand in solidarity with the media, stating that silence on such attacks is an endorsement of criminal behavior.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
