The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has announced the lifting of the media blackout imposed on Members of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and Yendi Constituencies, Mavis Hawa Koomson and Farouk Aliu Mahama, respectively.
The MPs were involved in assaulting journalists from Cape FM and Citi FM/TV during the NPP’s parliamentary primaries in January 2024, prompting the GJA to instruct all media outlets to cease coverage of the two individuals.
Speaking at a press briefing at the International Press Center on Thursday, May 9, the GJA President disclosed that both MPs separately engaged with the association’s leadership alongside the Minister of Information designate and successfully resolved the issues.
“However, exactly THREE months after the boycott, Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama has decided to seek a peaceful settlement (call for a truce). On May 6, 2024, the MP, accompanied by the Minister for Information designate, Fatimatu Abubakar, and her deputy designate, Sylvester Tetteh, sought an audience with the GJA and its partners. In a meeting held at the International Press Center, Farouk Aliu Mahama decided on amicable settlement in the matter, in the spirit of World Press Freedom Day, which was celebrated on May 3, 2024.
“The Minister of Information Designate, Honorable Fatimatu Abubakar, said the MP had taken the decision to settle the matter amicably in the spirit of World Press Freedom Day, which was celebrated on May 3, 2024. She emphasized the need for state and non-state stakeholders to collaborate to combat impunity and ensure that Ghana’s improved press freedom ranking is enhanced.”
Later the same day, Farouk Aliu Mahama wrote an apology letter to the Management of Citi FM/TV and copied the GJA.
Citi FM/Citi TV’s Northern regional correspondent, Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira, was assaulted by the Member of Parliament for Yendi in the Northern Region, Farouk Aliu Mahama, during the New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary primary on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The violence which marred the election process led to the arrest of one individual at the time.
The GJA imposed a similar news blackout on the Minister for Fisheries and MP for Awutu Senya East on January 25, 2024. This followed a brutal attack on David Kobbena, a journalist with Cape FM, on January 4, 2024, by alleged aides and supporters of Ms. Koomson during the NPP’s parliamentary candidates vetting in the Central Region.
The GJA also expressed disappointment at the silence of the NPP leadership regarding these incidents, as well as the lack of progress in the case of Ahmed Suale’s death, which remains unprosecuted.
“The continued silence of the leadership of the New Patriotic Party in the face of the two incidents recorded during internal electoral exercises is highly disappointing. Neither in the case of Hawa Koomson nor that of Farouk Aliu Mahama did the party leadership at the regional or national level, take any action to show concern.”
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