The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has backed the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) directive for a media blackout on the Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East constituency, Mavis Hawa Koomson, over an assault on journalist.
In a media briefing, the GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, said, amongst other things, that efforts to get the NPP to reprimand its MP after thugs associated with the minister assaulted one David Kobbena, a reporter with Cape Coast-based Cape FM, yielded no results.
“We submitted written petitions to the NPP with some demands, and the deadline has long passed, but we regret to announce that nothing has been done, and we are forced to advise ourselves in the light of the cold silence.
“…we call for all media houses to give a total media blackout to Mavis Hawa Koomson and stay away from her as the minister of state because we believe there are thugs around the MP who pose a threat to the lives of journalists and other media practitioners,” Mr. Dwumfour directed.
The MFWA, in a statement dated Sunday, January 28, commended the GJA for its directive. The Foundation stressed that the issue of attacks on journalists threatens the practice of journalism, and thus actions must be taken against the perpetrators.
“The MFWA commends the GJA for the bold, decisive decision and wishes to join the Association in appealing to all media houses and journalists in the country to adhere to the decision of the GJA,” the statement said.
The media watchdog body also urged the media to boycott the entire activities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development during the tenure of Hon. Koomson to register their displeasure with the assaults on journalists, for which perpetrators usually go unpunished.
“Indeed, the MFWA wishes to add that the media boycott must include all activities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, as long as Madam Koomson remains the sector minister,” the MFWA stated.
The MFWA said it is deeply concerned about “this umpteenth assault on journalists by political thugs” and demands immediate action from all concerned.
The Foundation also urged the NPP as a political party to demand answers from Hawa Koomson and to compel the Minister to identify the perpetrators for disciplinary action.
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