The Ministry of Information has expressed concern over the alleged assault of Abubakari Sadiq Gariba, a radio presenter at Dagbon FM in Tamale.
The Ministry has called on the police and other relevant agencies to investigate and prosecute the two attackers who assaulted Mr. Gariba on World Press Freedom Day.
Mr. Gariba claims that he was attacked because he criticized one of the assailants during a live radio show.
A video of the incident shows the two men threatening and assaulting the presenter, who eventually left the studio with them.
The Ministry has strongly condemned the attack, stating that it is unacceptable and that Ghana must uphold its status as a country that respects press freedom.
In a statement, the Ministry said, “Attacks on journalists should not be tolerated. Severe and speedy response from law enforcement agencies is necessary to prevent copycat acts and maintain Ghana’s status in upholding press freedom.”
May 3rd marked World Press Freedom Day, which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic African Press.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “30 years after the Windhoek declaration: Information as a Public Good.”
Speaking at the national event, the UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Mr. Charles Abani, emphasized the importance of credible and reliable information in the lives of people, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He praised journalists for their professionalism and called on them to avoid sensationalism and incitement.
Similarly, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, stressed the significance of the right to free expression in the nation’s development.
He urged media outlets to avoid excessive politicization and to consolidate Ghana’s democratic gains.
He also advised journalists to reject any politicians who poison the media atmosphere with provocative remarks.
Attacks on journalists in Ghana
Ghana is often regarded as a beacon of democracy and press freedom in West Africa, but the country has also witnessed several cases of attacks on journalists and media outlets over the years.
These attacks have included physical assaults, threats, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and even killings.
One of the most notorious cases of attacks on journalists in Ghana was the murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalist who worked with Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI team.
Hussein-Suale was shot dead by unknown assailants on a motorbike on January 16, 2019, after he had exposed corruption in Ghanaian football.
Another prominent case was the assault on Latif Iddrisu, a journalist with Joy FM, who was beaten by police officers at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra on March 27, 2018.
Iddrisu had gone there to cover the arrest of a deputy general secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.
Other cases of attacks on journalists in Ghana have involved security agents, political party supporters, public officials, and private individuals.
According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), a regional media watchdog, there were 31 incidents of violations against journalists and media outlets in Ghana in 2020.
These violations included physical attacks, threats, arrests, detentions, seizure or destruction of equipment, censorship, and closure of media houses.
The MFWA also reported that between January and June 2021, there were nine cases of violations against journalists and media outlets in Ghana, most of which were perpetrated by security agents.
These violations included physical attacks, threats, arrests, detentions, and seizure or destruction of equipment.
These attacks against journalists in Ghana have been increasing and intensifying — and the threat of physical violence is real.
The journalist safety watchdog organisation, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) documented in May 2021, a total of 14 cases of abusive treatment of journalists in Ghana — five arrests and nine cases of violence — since the start of 2021.
Source: The Independent Ghana