The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), is calling for the immediate removal of the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Roland Affail Monney, over what it describes as the failure of the Association to protect journalists.
This comes after the President of the Ghana Journalists Association said on Radio that embattled Citi FM journalist, Caleb Kudah, breached the Association’s Code of Ethics when he filmed some grounded MASLOC vehicles at the National Security premises, which is believed to have warranted the subsequent assault on him.
A statement signed by Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson said the justification of the assault on Caleb Kudah by Mr. Monney is a betrayal of the principles of the Association.
The statement reckons that Mr. Monney cannot continue to hold himself as the President of the GJA after what it describes as a reckless display of not just cowardice but individualism, and failing to uphold the interests of all journalists in the country. It believes the removal Affail Monney is the only way the GJA can distance itself from his comments and show solidarity with their compatriots.
Meanwhile, the Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GHANA), is worried over what it says is the continuous attacks on Journalists in Ghana. The Foundation bemoaned what it describes as unfortunate maltreatment of journalists in the past and the continuous and unprovoked attacks on Media Practitioners in recent times.
A statement issued by the Communications Directorate of the Foundation said, several journalists have been intimidated, issued with death threats, brutally beaten, maimed, and even killed in some cases for performing their lawful duties.
It mentions for instance, the gruesome murder of Ahmed Suale of Tiger PI over his expose of the rot at Ghana Football Association (GFA), the attack on David Tamakloe of Whatsapp News, and the recent arrest of Caleb Kudah at the premises of National Security for allegedly filming vehicles, and the rambo style arrest of Zoe Abu-Baidoo, of Citi FM as well as the recent contentious suspension of Captain Smart of Angel FM by his employer for being overly critical of Government.
These instances the group notes are some of the high level game being played by the ruling class to gag citizens from speaking up on issues that affect them.
To this end, CFF-Ghana has condemned in the strongest term, what it describes as the blatant abuse of power by some persons which is gradually leading to a culture of silence in the country.
