The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has called for media blackout on the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi Constituency, Farouk Aliu Mahama.
The President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, made this call during a news conference to address the media on attacks of journalists in Accra, yesterday.
The media blackout on Farouk Mahama is as a result of his attack on the Northern Regional Correspondent of Citi FM, Mohammed Amin Alabira, during the just ended NPP Primaries.
According to him, “…the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, was the one who led the onslaught. He slapped and kicked Alabira for attempting to do his work. His action invited his vigilantes around him, who also pounced on the journalist and attacked him.”
Mr. Dwumfour continued that Alabira was not the only one attacked, the Regional Police Commander and the Electoral Commission Officer were also made to undergo humiliating ordeals.
“The MP and his thugs took the law into their own hands and engaged in unfathomable conducts that all well-meaning citizens must condemn and demand justice”, he added.
He also disclosed that after his outfit called for a media blackout on the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, over an attack on a journalist over a week ago, she has promised to collaborate with the GJA to make sure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
However, while the GJA awaits Hawa Koomson to actually see to it that the perpetrators who attacked the journalist have been brought to book, Mr. Dwumfour has told the media not to call off her blackout.
Incidents of Attack on Journalists
The GJA bemoaned that “just within one month in this year alone, two of our colleagues have been attacked without any provocation. Last year, within the last quarter, more than ten journalists were assaulted”.
Apart from the attacks, the GJA emphasised that their records also show that from 2021 to date, four journalists spent days behind bars on the orders of the court, for no apparent legal reasons.
Police lack of interest
It is on this background that the GJA have concluded that the police seemingly look unconcerned.
“We have come to the conclusion that the Ghana Police Service has failed to live up to our expectations when it comes to issues relating to the media.
“Are they not supposed to protect us? If our safety is at stake, how do we defend our constitutional mandate and contribute to the development of this country,” he quizzed.
The GJA also called on the Police Service, led by IGP Dr. Dampare, to demonstrate the willingness to fight for the safety of journalists across the country.
Also, the Association entreated the Ministry of Information to help in the fight against journalists in the country.
Threat of suing GJA
Just like Mavis Hawa Koomson, the GJA noted that Farouk Aliu Mahama has also threatened to go to court over this assault case.
The GJA bemoaned that there is a sense of impunity that gives these public officials the impression that they can attack or cause an attack on journalists and media personnel and get away with it.
The Judiciary
The President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour appealed to the judiciary to issue more deterrent convictions for hoodlums who attack journalists.
Plea to Parliament
The GJA has also called on the Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Alban Sumana Bagbin, to intervene in the Yendi case and haul the MP to the appropriate Parliamentary Committee to respond to his behaviour.
