Government is organising a stakeholder engagement aimed at curbing the increasing spate of abuses and violence against journalists in Ghana.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Minister for Information, Pius Enam Hadzide, the Government is taking recent cases of brutalities on journalists very seriously.
He disclosed that Government is working to implement a plan of action on the safety of journalists in the country adding that the Government in partnership with UNESCO will organise a stakeholder engagement on the proposed national coordinating mechanism on safe and responsible journalism in Ghana.
The stakeholder engagement event will be held tomorrow, July 19th 2019 at the Alisa Hotel.
“Government, taking serious view of reported incidents of attacks and brutalities on journalists in Ghana, has been working to implement a plan of action on the safety of journalists and against impunity in line with its mandate to advocate and ensure a comprehensive approach in media development and the creation of a conducive environment for the practice of safe and responsible journalism in Ghana.”
“In partnership with UNESCO, Government is organizing a stakeholders engagement on the proposed national coordinating mechanism on safe and responsible journalism in Ghana.”
Stakeholders will be drawn from the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, Police Service, Armed Forces, National Peace Council, National house of Chiefs, National Commission for Civic Education.
It will also include media stakeholders such as the Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, Private newspapers Association of Ghana, Sports Writers Association of Ghana, Civil Society organisations among others.
Last month the arrest of Emmanuel Ajarfor, a journalist with Modern Ghana, alongside a fellow journalist, Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum saw many Ghanaians criticising government for what was largely described as an attack on media freedom.
The case was surrounded with controversy after suggestions that the arrest of the two journalists was tied to the publication of an article that criticised the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah.
Mr. Ajarfor alleged that he was tortured and his digital privacy violated while in National Security custody.
The National Security Council Secretariat has denied the torture claims but said it intends to study the Ajarfor’s medical report.
The secretariat in a statement said Mr. Ajarfor, “was never manhandled, neither was he subjected to any form of forced physical contact.”
Ghana taking measures to stop attacks on journalists – Oppong Nkrumah
Ghana last week joined other commonwealth nations to pledge their commitment to the protection of journalists at the just ended Global Conference for Media Freedom in London.
The conference was also used to discuss ways to ensure responsible media and support for the safety and protection of journalists.
The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who led Ghana’s delegation said Ghana is taking measures to stop the incidents of abuse and attacks on journalists.
