The President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, and Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), have locked horns over the association’s directive to blacklist certain members of parliament for assaulting journalists.
Mr. Ayeboafo has publicly criticised the GJA’s decision, describing it as “dysfunctional and unproductive” for the good of the public.
He, however, proposed that journalists address such acts of impunity using the legal system.
In an interview on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr. Ayeboafo said, “The thing is that boycotting or blackout is something that is not part of normal democratic culture. It is only when everything possible through the rule of law has broken down [that you adopt such measures]. But sometimes it may result in impunity… It is not the most efficacious tool in dealing with attacks on journalists.”
However, Mr. Dwumfour disagreed with the NMC Chair, indicating that the NMC Chair was mistaken in his position.
Albert Dwumfour emphasised that the association would not tolerate attacks on journalists.
“First of all, an attack on any journalist or an attack on the media is an attack on our democracy and its role…We are the fourth estate of the realm, and for that matter, the fourth arm of the state.
“Therefore, if we come under an attack and we are working in a contaminated environment, you are telling us that we should put our lives on the line and still be seen to be discharging our duties in a harmful or contaminated environment. Is that what our senior colleague is trying to say?
“We still stand by our position, which is a civil and a democratic tool to exercise our displeasure,” Mr. Dwumfour stated.
Read more:
- GIBA stands in solidarity with the GJA on blacking out Hawa Koomson
- You cannot fight the media and win – GJA warns those who attack journalists
Meanwhile, Mr. Ayeboafo has come under severe criticism from Mensah Thompson, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), for his opposition to the GJA’s directive.
“So, you people, they are beating you, they are not paying you well, they are disrespecting you; you rise to the position when you can take decisions to protect your fellow members, look at the ridiculousness of the things he is saying.”
“That I should sit down for somebody to come to my house, come and attack me, come and beat me to a pulp, the following day I should give the same person a platform to come and talk, according to this man, a former journalist, he should be ashamed of himself,” the ASEPA boss lamented.
Background
The GJA president, with support from GIBA and PRINPAG, urged the media to boycott members of parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, and Farouk Aliu Mahama, MP for Yendi constituency.
The decision by GJA followed an attack on David Kobbena, a journalist with Cape FM, by thugs alleged to be supporters of Madam Koomson.
Also, Mr. Mahama reportedly assaulted the Northern Regional reporter for Citi FM/TV, Mohammed Aminu Alabira, during the coverage of the January 27 NPP parliamentary primaries.