The Ghana Police Service and the Judiciary have presented a comprehensive account of their responses to investigations and punishments concerning individuals alleged to have attacked journalists in the country.
This occurred at the 2023 Accountability Forum of the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists, a program organized by the Ministry of Information.
The forum, held on Friday, December 22, 2023, aimed to contribute to Ghana's annual report on the safety of journalists and influence future strategies to address this pressing issue.
In attendance were prominent media umbrella bodies, including the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), National Media Commission (NMC), Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association (PRINPAG), and Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA).
Providing updates on the status of investigations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Faustina Agyeiwaa Kodua Andoh-Kwofie revealed that, out of the 29 cases requested by the Ministry of Information, 10 have been reported to the Police as of August this year. Among these, 5 are actively under investigation, while the remaining 5 cases have been concluded.
However, an alarming 19 cases remain unconfirmed, underscoring the critical need for sustained collaboration between law enforcement and media bodies.
Expressing concern over the rising trend of attacks on journalists, Superior Court Judge His Lordship Ernest Gaewu, speaking on behalf of the Chief Justice, described it as a "darkening blot on our democratic credentials." He called for enhanced collaboration among media umbrella bodies to ensure timely reporting of such cases, emphasizing the importance of dealing with perpetrators to uphold the rule of law.
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, utilized the opportunity to call on the Judiciary to pursue robust charges against those responsible for attacks on journalists. Urging judges to expedite severe penalties, he emphasized the need for swift and decisive justice, regardless of the culprits' social status or political affiliations.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said, "within the threshold of sentences, sometimes you should go a bit extreme so that we send a strong signal that that will not be tolerated in the country." He said the Accountability Forum stands as a pivotal component of Ghana's concerted efforts to address the escalating attacks on media personnel, constituting a fundamental element of the Coordinated Mechanism for the Safety of Journalists.
He issued a call for collaborative efforts between the Ghana Police Service and media umbrella bodies. The aim is to establish a coordinated approach that ensures attacks on journalists are promptly reported and effectively addressed.
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