The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is asking government to state its stance on press freedom amidst recent attacks and intimidation of journalists.
Its Executive Director Sulemana Braimah said, it will be prudent for government to ensure that the media operates in the country freely as granted by the Constitution.
[contextly_sidebar id=”labFAzratagRxIFyN3bi10GKZuS8gMqZ”]He was reacting to claims by some two journalists with an online news portal, modernghana.com, Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri and Emmanuel Britwum, who were picked up and assaulted by officials of the National Security last Thursday.
“We are all aware of what had happened. I also listened to the journalists recounting their ordeal and wonder if this is Ghana. Why will this be happening in a country that speaks highly of press freedom credentials? Why will this happen in a country that was ranked first on the continent last year and moved four steps backwards this year? It is just unbelievable and one cannot understand – it is quite harrowing.”
“I think we all have a responsibility and the earlier the government of the day realizes that, the better. We reproach journalists for not having certain stories told. It has never worked and will not work in Ghana. So whatever happens is the government that will lose that race”, he added.
Assault on reporters could tarnish Ghana’s image globally – MFWA
The foundation also believes the upsurge in assault cases involving Ghanaian journalists will tarnish the image of the country globally in terms of its ranking on the press freedom index.
It says government must make it clear that abuses against journalists are not tolerated.
“The government of the day has a responsibility that demonstrates quite clearly that abuses against journalists will not be something that is tolerated so if you have state agencies like National Security being the one that is abusing the rights of journalists and abusing media organisations then you wonder where else can we find solutions. It sends a wrong signal about our reputation, our status as a country, our human rights records and the international community is watching.”
Background
The move has been widely condemned with the Media Foundation for West Africa threatening to take legal action against the National Security.
Earlier reports suggested that the two journalists were picked up for allegedly hacking content of other competing media organisations but according to the journalists, such claim never came up during their detention and interrogation at the National Security Secretariat.
ModernGhana journalists were not tortured
Meanwhile, the National Security Council has rejected claims that the reporters were physically assaulted during interrogation.
The Council in a statement also said one of the reporters will be put before court today, Tuesday, July 2, 2019.
“…The suspect will be arraigned before the court on Tuesday, 2nd July 2019 and the charges proffered against him will be made known.”