Ghana has recorded not less than thirty-one press related brutalities in 2018, a report by the United Press for Development Network (UPDN), has disclosed.
According to the UPDN, the increasing rate of attacks on journalists, mostly perpetrated by personnel of the police, military officers, political party sympathizers and even government officials, exposes the deteriorating conditions of safety of pressmen in the country.
In an end of year press statement signed by its Principal Servant, Kofi Asante Mensah, the UPDN insists “The vicious and shameful act” questions Ghana’s records as a country of positive press freedom and Africa’s first country and twenty third in the world in press freedom.
“These achievements, coupled with hosting the 2018 World Press Freedom Day in Accra Ghana were not enough to curb or minimize the menace this year. Journalists continue to be vulnerable to brutal attacks, which are perpetrated with gross impunity. The corner stone and foundation of our young democracy quiver when media persons wail and tears bitterly as a result of assaults meted out to them,” the UPDN bemoaned.
To back its claims, the UPDN provides evidence of some incidents of attacks on journalists in 2018.
Background
Joy News’ multiple award-winning journalist, Latif Iddrisu suffered head injury after he was attacked by some officers of the Ghana Police Service earlier this year.
Latif was at the Police Headquarters to report on the arrest of NDC’s former Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho.
On October 29, 2018, another Joy News reporter, Parker Wilson was assaulted by a member of security detail of former President Mahama.
Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas also suffered verbal attacks from some government officials following the release of his famous ‘Number 12’ investigative piece which exposed corruption in Ghana’s football sector.
The UPDN provides evidence of some incidents of attacks on journalists in 2018 to back its claims.
Read the full statement below
PRESS STATEMENT Monday December 31, 2018 Cc: ALL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS
GHANA SHAMEFULLY RECORDED 31 MEDIA ASSAULTS IN 2018 – UPDN
Ghana has recorded not less than thirty-one press brutality in 2018.
The vicious and shameful act is mostly led by Security Agencies (Police, Military etc.), Government Officials, Political Party Sympathizers, aggrieved youth among others.
This is a clear manifestation of deteriorating conditions of safety of journalists in a country that has had a positive press freedom record over the years and is currently Africa’s first country and twenty third in the world in press freedom (according to Reporters Without Borders).
These achievements, coupled with hosting the 2018 World Press Freedom Day in Accra Ghana were not enough to curb or minimize the menace this year. Journalists continue to be vulnerable to brutal attacks, which are perpetrated with gross impunity. The corner stone and foundation of our young democracy quiver when media persons wail and tears bitterly as a result of assaults meted out to them. United Press for Development Network (UPDN) wishes to officially draw your august attention (media) to the spate at which crime against Media Practitioners is increasingly perturbing.
For purposes of evidence, below are some incidents of attacks on journalists in 2018.
No
Name (Victim)
Media Org.
Culprits
Date
Location
1.
Christopher Kevin Asima
A1 Radio
Police
Feb 23
Bolgatanga
2.
Latif Iddrisu
Joy News
Police
Mar 27
Police Headqtrs, Accra
3.
Portia Amma Agyeiwaa
Dess FM
Unknown Assailants (Murder)
April 14
Bekwai, Ashanti Region
4.
Ohenmaa Sekyiwaa Ahenepa
Adom FM
Hajia Fati
(Politician)
May 4
NPP Headoffice, Accra
5.
Eric Gyatuah
Sky Power FM
Military
May 24
Takoradi (Street)
6.
Saddick Adams (Sports Obama)
Atinka FM
Unknown Assailants
May 31
Taifa, Accra
7.
Reynold Dadzie
Ghone TV
Irate Youth
July 19
Asawase Kumasi
8.
?
Ghone TV
Irate Youth
July 19
Asawase Kumasi
9.
Jerry Azanduna
GNA
Hassan Ayariga Party (APC) Sympathizers
(Politician)
Aug 29
U/E Region
10.
Nana Akua Mensah Aborampah
TV3
Menzgold Staff
Sept 12
East Legon Accra
11.
Karen Dodoo
Joy News
Menzgold Staff
Sept 12
East Legon Accra
12.
Eric Kombat
Daily Guide
UDS Students
Oct 6
Nyankpala UDS, Upper East
13.
Albert Futokpor
GNA
UDS Students
Oct 6
Nyankpala UDS, Upper East
- ? UTV Cameraman UDS Students Oct 6 Nyankpala UDS, Upper East
- Samuel Sam Business &
Financial Times
UDS Students Oct 6 Nyankpala UDS, Upper East - Mohammed Ibrahim Business &
Financial Times
UDS Students Oct 6 Nyankpala UDS, Upper East - Joseph Ziem Business &
Financial Times
UDS Students Oct 6 Nyankpala Uds, Upper East - Boafo Eric Tetteh Rite FM Police Oct 11 Somanya, Street
- Bernert Yaovi XYZ Reporter Police Oct 11 Somanya, Street
- Eyram Ameshi Kekeli Radio Politician 0ct 12 Ho, Volta Region
- Akpagana Kesedovo
Logah
Kekeli Radio Politician 0ct 12 Ho, Volta Region - Henry K. Atta Sunsum Fm Knust Security
Officers
Oct 24 Kumasi - Erastus Asare
Donkor
Luv Fm Knust Security
Officers
Oct 24 Kumasi - Nana Yaw Gyimah Luv Fm Knust Security
Officers
Oct 24 Kumasi - Emmanuel Sackey Top Fm NDC Hawks @
Women and Youth
Congress
Oct 27 Gomoa Fetteh, C/R - ? Rainbow Radio NDC Hawks @
Women and Youth
Congress
Oct 27 Gomoa Fetteh, C/R - Various Media Org. Various Media
Org.
Youth @ Asogli
Palace, Ho
Oct 28 Ho - Kwasi Parker
Wilson
Joy News John Mahama’s,
Security Officer
Oct 29 Accra - Samuel Laryea Metro Tv Police Nov 12 Adenta footbridge, Accra
- Ebenezer Ofori Akwatia Local
Reporter
Police Nov 14 Akwatia, Eastern Region - Kwabena Afriyie
Obeng
(a.k.a OB Trice)
Nhyira Sports
Journalist
Police Dec 18 Kumasi
Also, unwarranted verbal attacks and assaults against Anas Aremeyaw Anas (Tiger Eye PI), Araba Koomson
(Joy News), Komla Klutsi (TV3) among others by Hon. Kennedy Agyepong, MP Assin Central.
Impunity for crimes against journalists has literally become the order of the day. Despite the several reported
incidents of violations against journalists, punishment of perpetrators has been very rare, if any at all.
This culture of impunity for crimes against journalists only emboldens perpetrators and encourages others to abuse
journalists at the least opportunity. Many reported crimes go investigated or end with the mere pronouncement by
the police to the effect that investigations have commenced.
Authorities in the country have over the years failed to take a strong position against abuses on journalists. Indeed,
not even petitions from advocates have succeeded in moving leaders of the country to openly condemn acts of
violence against journalists.
Majority of journalists in the country lacks the basic knowledge and skills on safety and thus easily become victims
of attacks. The majority of media organizations in the country also fails to train their journalists and do not have
safety of journalists policies in place.
Considering the challenges stated above, we hereby call on President Akufo – Addo government addresses them as a
matter of urgency in order to improve the safety of journalists’ conditions in Ghana.
United Press for Development Network (UPDN) will continue to push and mount more pressure to curb this
evil and disgraceful canker.
Thank you
Yours sincerely,
………………………
Kofi Asante Mensah
Principal Servant, UPDN
0244690262
NATIONAL COMMUNICATION BUREAU
Kelvin T. Malor – 0245995541
Abena Amponsah Britwum – 0242551339
Frank Darlington Hayman – 0245414948
Lily Ampofoa Prekoh – 0541444671
Julius A. Tettey – 0263222038
UNITED PRESS FOR DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
MADINA, ACCRA, GHANA
TEL: 0244690262
www.updghana.com
info@updghana.com
