The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has appealed to the Ghana Police hierarchy to take the necessary action against the people who assaulted some journalists while in the line of duty on Monday, September 13, 2021 during the trial of Popular Pastor, Isaac Owusu Bempah.
In a statement, signed by President Affail Monney, GJA condemned the actions of the assaulters, and described it as a violation of press freedom and the rights of journalists.
“The Ghanaian media community is once again enduring excruciating pain following the inglorious attacks perpetrated by loyalists of the Head Pastor of Glorious Word Power Ministries International, Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah at the premises of an Accra High Court where he is standing trial for alleged assault and other offences.”
“With all the vehemence it can muster, the GJA condemns the latest desecration of the rights of journalists and affront of press freedom and demands swift justice against the uncouth men of Owusu Bempah,” the statement noted.
The statement comes on the back of reports that some journalists were prevented from entering the courtroom on Monday, September 13, 2021 for the hearing of the Rev Owusu Bempah’s case at an Accra High Court.
The Head Pastor of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International has been charged with offensive conduct, conducive to the breach of peace and threat of death.
This followed his arrest on Sunday, September 12, 2021 for issuing threats, brandishing weapons, and attacking Police officers.
Some Journalists who were assigned to cover proceedings in court were heckled by some persons believed to be from the defendant’s church.
The Police have however rendered an apology and assured the public of its commitment to a sanitised trial as far as the media is concerned.
“We wish to give the assurance that journalists will be fully protected and allowed to do their work at all times including the subsequent coverage of the case,” the statement noted.
Although the GJA in the statement accepted the apology and the Police’s assurance to protect the media in the future, the Association urged the Police to ensure the case in court does not overshadow the attack on the journalists.
The Association, cited examples, in the statement that in 2018, Rev. Owusu Bempah vandalized equipment at Hot FM and in 2019 stormed the premises of Radio XYZ in the company of 4 gun-wielding thugs in search of a Radio Presenter and walked away a free man.
“The GJA principally holds the view that the timely gesture of the rebranded Ghana Police does not and should not absolve the offenders from tasting the biting edge of the law as articulated by Article 17(1) of the Constitution which simply says no one is above the law.”
“While the landmark trial travels its full throttle, we urge the law and order community not to allow the latest attacks against journalists to be overshadowed by the dominant case or swept under the carpet. Justice must manifestly and expeditiously be done for the victims to amplify the message that no one is indeed above the law,” according to GJA’s statement.
