COMMENTARY ON CONDEMNING ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK.
If lots were cast today for the most admired journalist in Ghana, it will surely fall on Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. This is because Anas succeeded in carrying out his duties without any physical attack. It is possible that the very people who praise Anas today would have been the very first to condemn and call for his head if he had been arrested, attacked or harmed in the course of his duties. Like the Biblical Pharisees, the truth about Ghanaians is that, they will praise you if you win and betray you if you are handicapped. Thank God Anas is safe.
Article 162 Clause 4 of the 1992 constitution states that editors and publishers of newspapers and other institutions of the Mass Media shall not be subject to control or interference by government nor shall they be penalized or harassed for their editorial opinions and views for the content of their publication.
Whilst Ghanaian journalists can freely work without fear of governmental interference and harassments, the same cannot be said of individuals and security agencies. Attacks on journalists in the course of their work are not new at least, to people in the inky fraternity. It is not true that attacks on journalists prevailed only in the era of military rule. Journalists have been attacked even under democratically elected Presidents in Ghana.
Not too long ago, some journalists were attacked, vilified and abused by security men of former President Kufour at his Private residence in Accra. After that incident, a camera man of the state television, GTV, was assaulted in Accra in the course of duty. Before condemnations of that attack could end, another journalist with the State Radio, Radio Ghana, was attacked by uniformed Policemen in Tamale during the district level elections. As if there was a perpetual attempt to frustrate journalists, another group of Policemen on February 8, 2011 attacked and assaulted a reporter and a cameraman of TV3 at Ofankor in Accra when they were lawfully carrying out their duties.
The list is endless. Nobody doubts the crucial role journalists have played in bringing Ghana this far. The sad aspect of the story is that these journalists were attacked whilst trying to expose some wrongs in society in accordance with the laws of Ghana. The GBC and TV3 journalists in particular acted in line with Article 12 section one of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics which states that, a journalist shall obtain information, photographs and illustrations only by straightforward means. Besides, section two of Article 12 of the same GJA Code of Ethics says that, the use of other means can be justified only by overriding considerations of the public interest.
The attacks on these journalists are therefore unjustified, barbaric and must be condemned in no certain terms. In fact they must not be allowed to continue in Ghana where the doors of justice are open. It is high time the Ghana Journalists Association started biting after years of barking. If lawyers jumped in to defend Amina accused of causing fear & panic over the mass sex allegation why can’t the same be extended to journalists? What is our priority as a nation? Has the National Media Commission forgotten that it has a mandate under Article 167(a) of the 1992 constitution to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media for mass communication? How long will the Police Administration continue to allow a few irresponsible policemen to continue to frustrate journalists?
Maybe the time has come for media owners to start taking legal action against people who attack their workers after all, it is not wrong for the mountain to go to Mohamed if Mohammed fails to go to the mountain. Enemies of journalists should bear in mind that a war against media practitioners is tantamount to fetching water with a basket. In fact no weapon fashioned against journalists shall prosper here in Ghana.
Yesterday it was GBC, today it is TV3, tomorrow it could be another, so let us all help protect our journalists.
BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC RADIO NEWS, ACCRA.
If lots were cast today for the most admired journalist in Ghana, it will surely fall on Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. This is because Anas succeeded in carrying out his duties without any physical attack. It is possible that the very people who praise Anas today would have been the very first to condemn and call for his head if he had been arrested, attacked or harmed in the course of his duties. Like the Biblical Pharisees, the truth about Ghanaians is that, they will praise you if you win and betray you if you are handicapped. Thank God Anas is safe.
Article 162 Clause 4 of the 1992 constitution states that editors and publishers of newspapers and other institutions of the Mass Media shall not be subject to control or interference by government nor shall they be penalized or harassed for their editorial opinions and views for the content of their publication.
Whilst Ghanaian journalists can freely work without fear of governmental interference and harassments, the same cannot be said of individuals and security agencies. Attacks on journalists in the course of their work are not new at least, to people in the inky fraternity. It is not true that attacks on journalists prevailed only in the era of military rule. Journalists have been attacked even under democratically elected Presidents in Ghana.
Not too long ago, some journalists were attacked, vilified and abused by security men of former President Kufour at his Private residence in Accra. After that incident, a camera man of the state television, GTV, was assaulted in Accra in the course of duty. Before condemnations of that attack could end, another journalist with the State Radio, Radio Ghana, was attacked by uniformed Policemen in Tamale during the district level elections. As if there was a perpetual attempt to frustrate journalists, another group of Policemen on February 8, 2011 attacked and assaulted a reporter and a cameraman of TV3 at Ofankor in Accra when they were lawfully carrying out their duties.
The list is endless. Nobody doubts the crucial role journalists have played in bringing Ghana this far. The sad aspect of the story is that these journalists were attacked whilst trying to expose some wrongs in society in accordance with the laws of Ghana. The GBC and TV3 journalists in particular acted in line with Article 12 section one of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics which states that, a journalist shall obtain information, photographs and illustrations only by straightforward means. Besides, section two of Article 12 of the same GJA Code of Ethics says that, the use of other means can be justified only by overriding considerations of the public interest.
The attacks on these journalists are therefore unjustified, barbaric and must be condemned in no certain terms. In fact they must not be allowed to continue in Ghana where the doors of justice are open. It is high time the Ghana Journalists Association started biting after years of barking. If lawyers jumped in to defend Amina accused of causing fear & panic over the mass sex allegation why can’t the same be extended to journalists? What is our priority as a nation? Has the National Media Commission forgotten that it has a mandate under Article 167(a) of the 1992 constitution to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media for mass communication? How long will the Police Administration continue to allow a few irresponsible policemen to continue to frustrate journalists?
Maybe the time has come for media owners to start taking legal action against people who attack their workers after all, it is not wrong for the mountain to go to Mohamed if Mohammed fails to go to the mountain. Enemies of journalists should bear in mind that a war against media practitioners is tantamount to fetching water with a basket. In fact no weapon fashioned against journalists shall prosper here in Ghana.
Yesterday it was GBC, today it is TV3, tomorrow it could be another, so let us all help protect our journalists.
BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC RADIO NEWS, ACCRA.
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