GJA demands arrest, prosecution of fire officers for assaulting journalist

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has demanded the arrest and prosecution of personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) who physically assaulted a Class FM journalist, Samuel Addo, at the Kasoa Market last Sunday while he was carrying out his professional duties.

The President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, said the attack was not only an assault on an individual journalist but a direct attack on media freedom, the public’s right to information and the country’s democratic order.

At a news conference in Accra yesterday, Mr Dwumfour said Mr Addo was lawfully covering a fire outbreak at the Kasoa Market when he was assaulted by officers of the Fire Service, an incident which has since drawn widespread public condemnation.

He said the conduct of the officers could not be justified under any circumstance, as emergencies did not suspend constitutional rights or press freedoms.

“No emergency or security institution has the authority to intimidate, assault or obstruct journalists under the guise of operational control,” he said.

‘Remove GNFS PRO’

The GJA President also demanded the immediate removal of the Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, DO II Desmond Ackah, following his public response to the incident on behalf of the service.

Mr Dwumfour said the explanation offered by the service, which sought to downplay the assault, demonstrated a troubling lack of understanding of press freedom and the law governing media practice in Ghana.

“No officer of the Ghana National Fire Service has the authority to confiscate a journalist’s equipment, obstruct coverage or demand permission for lawful journalistic work at a public emergency scene,” he said.

Mr Dwumfour said any attempt to sanitise or justify misconduct rather than confront it with honesty and accountability would be fiercely resisted by the association.

The association further demanded that the Chief Fire Officer, Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sapong, publicly condemn the assault, identify the officers involved and apply severe internal sanctions, including dismissal where appropriate.

The GJA said the internal disciplinary measures by the GNFS would, however, be inadequate in dealing with the issue, insisting that the matter was criminal and must be tested in a court of law to serve as a deterrent.

Other attacks

The GJA also condemned alleged threats and intimidation against a freelance journalist, Joseph Akrofi Ocansey, formerly of Eagle FM, at Sege in the Ada East District in the Greater Accra Region.

The association said the journalist was verbally abused and threatened following a social media post in which he demanded accountability from the Member of Parliament for the area over the distribution of security service recruitment slots.

Mr Dwumfour said the alleged threats, which had been reported to the police, constituted a grave assault on press freedom and an attempt to silence a journalist for performing his constitutional duty.

“Such threats are reckless, reprehensible and criminal, and must be treated with the seriousness they deserve,” he said.

Constitution Day

Touching on Constitution Day, marked on January 7, Mr Dwumfour said the occasion remained a critical reminder of the supremacy of the 1992 Constitution and its guarantees of freedom of expression, media independence and the right of the public to information.

He said the media’s freedoms and responsibilities were firmly anchored in the Constitution, and urged journalists to recommit themselves to defending constitutionalism and safeguarding Ghana’s democratic gains.

NPP flagbearership contest

Mr Dwumfour cautioned the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to restrain its supporters ahead of the party’s upcoming contest to elect a presidential candidate.

He said political competition must not be used as a basis to harass, intimidate or attack journalists, and called on political parties to demonstrate leadership and responsibility.