The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has urged governments worldwide to commit more firmly to protecting journalists and ensuring their safety.
Addressing a panel at a two-day meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, held in observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Mr. Dwumfour raised concerns about the high rate of attacks on journalists globally, including killings. He emphasized the importance of governments taking decisive action to arrest and prosecute perpetrators, aiming to curb impunity and safeguard press freedom.
The panel discussion, organized by the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), focused on “Ensuring the safety and protection of journalists by addressing impunity: A responsibility for the world.” This year’s event, organized by UNESCO and the African Union (AU), centered on the theme “Safety of journalists in crises and emergencies.”
The GJA President, accompanied by General Secretary Kofi Yeboah, also participated in the launch of the Virtual Scroll, displaying a profile of 1,653 journalists killed worldwide between 1993 and 2023, including Ghanaian investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, whose killers remain at large since his murder in 2019.
Describing these casualties as alarming, Mr. Dwumfour advocated for severe sanctions against governments responsible for attacks on journalists. He called for leaders of such states to be held personally accountable and stressed the need for public education on the crucial role of journalists, aiming to foster greater public support for media safety.