By Iddi Yire
Accra, July 31, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has strongly condemned the recent incident involving the manhandling of some journalists by state security personnel.
“Such conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I have instructed that the incident be thoroughly investigated and that the officers involved be sanctioned accordingly,” he said.
President Mahama said as a card-bearing member of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), he would not preside over a government that abuses or intimidates journalists in the lawful exercise of their duty.
The President stated this in his remarks during the swearing-in of four new Deputy Ministers at the Presidency in Accra.
They include: Madam Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mohammed Adam Sukparu, Deputy Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, and Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister for Health.
The President said: “A free and responsible press is indispensable to our democracy and must all work to protect the media”.
He said he would soon convene a meeting between the heads of the security services and the leadership of the GJA to plan a programme to orient our troops to recognize the media not as enemies but as partners in development.
GNA
Christian Akorlie