President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has described the recent attacks on journalists as deliberate and premeditated acts by perpetrators.
His remarks come in the wake of growing concerns over press freedom and journalist safety, following a series of violent incidents.
Notably, a GHOne TV reporter was assaulted during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on July 17, while JoyNews reporter Carlos Calony, his cameraman, and an eyewitness were reportedly attacked by armed military officers during a demolition exercise at Spintex on July 30.
The GJA has since issued a stern warning of a nationwide media blackout on police activities if urgent and concrete measures are not taken to protect journalists and hold perpetrators accountable.
Speaking with Selorm Adonoo on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, August 2, Mr. Dwumfour stressed the gravity of the attacks, asserting that they are not random or spontaneous.
He emphasised that such premeditated actions should be treated as serious criminal offences, not minor misdemeanours.
“Usually, issues of such attacks and assaults are premeditated. These are not issues we should take for granted. Before anybody plans to attack a journalist in the line of duty, it is either that it has been planned already, determined. They had already planned that today we’re going to do A, B, C, D, and premeditated must be seen as a very serious offence, not a misdemeanour case,” he stated.
The GJA president called on law enforcement agencies to investigate the attacks thoroughly and ensure that justice is served to deter future incidents.
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