National Media Commission (NMC) has stressed the need for a different approach in addressing the persistent attacks on media and journalists in Ghana if the issue is to be effectively eradicated.
The commission claims that the current method, which involved mediating between victims and perpetrators, was counterproductive and had, in fact, emboldened further attacks on journalists. Mr. George Sarpong, the Executive Secretary of the NMC, speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile, advocated for a more direct approach to combat this problem.
He stated, “I think that we’ve reached a point where a more direct approach should be our strategy. At the NMC, we’ve concluded that mediation in these matters hasn’t benefited individuals, society, the journalism profession, or changed behaviors. Thus, all of us need to change our approach.”
Mr. Sarpong addressed the recent assaults on the media perpetrated by supporters of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, around 30 NPP supporters stormed the studios of United Television (UTV), disrupting a live program. This incident resulted in the arrest of 16 of the intruders by the Ghana Police Service.
In a similar occurrence barely a week later, on Friday, October 13, 2023, a group of enraged NDC youth attacked the Greater Accra Regional Office of the party to express their dissatisfaction with an intraparty electoral process in the Odododiodio Constituency. Their actions resulted in damage to the party’s office and an assault on a journalist from Accra-based Citi FM/TV.
Mr. Sarpong observed that these attacks on the media persist due to the lenient approach with which such incidents have been managed.
“If you recall, one of the most dastardly attacks on media under the fourth republic, very early in the life of the Constitution was what we all referred to as ‘shit bombing’ of Kweku Baako’s offices. At the time, all of us were outraged because of the dirtiness of it and the attack, but even then, the perpetrators strode through the night to do so because they were afraid to own up to this really terrible behaviour.
“So, if people walk through a studio broad day light, I mean, in broad light, but also know that the cameras are on and did not fear to be captured on television and also make the case of claim that they made, it suggests to you that we are getting into an area that perhaps, we need to change tactics in terms of how we address these issues.
“I strongly believe that anybody who is involved in these things ought to be punished, but beyond that there is also the bigger question about how do we address the peculiar needs of victims of attacks,” he said.
During the same program, Investigative Journalist Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni emphasized the necessity of channeling all efforts into the prosecution of those responsible for the attacks. He stressed that such legal action would serve as a strong deterrent to individuals with similar intentions.