Do not be afraid that the forces will want to silence you – MFWA to journalists

General News on Thursday, May 2nd, 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

2019-05-02

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) called on all journalists in the country not to succumb to the people or agencies that could silence them in order to perpetuate criminal acts and destroy freedom of the media.

Professor Kwame Karikari, board member of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), said "throwing in the towel" would mean mourning for journalists.

"We must not be afraid and fall back into fear of the dark forces that are trying to send us back to the abyss of silence and self-censorship. We must not give in to forces that would silence the media to perpetuate crime and the destruction of our hard-won freedoms. We must not give up because the forces are in marginal minority, whoever they are, who fear the light of democracy. To yield is to accept our own damnation.

MFWA recorded a total of 22 violations against journalists and media workers from February 2019 to March 2019.

This growing number of abuse and culture of impunity continues to threaten the safety of journalists in the country.

According to Reporters Without Borders' world index of press freedom, Ghana lost four places from 23rd to 27th in 2019.

"The death threats on the lives of journalists are a whole new development that requires the concern of the government and of all Ghanaians who love democracy. We must appeal to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to find an opportunity to publicly address these issues. The government and political parties must publicly condemn these threats and censor their comrades whose statements and actions tend to support violence against the media and journalists. "

Mr. Karikari noted that some citizens and institutional leaders resorted to arbitrary violent means to deal with the media content with which they disagreed or that they considered unacceptable instead of using the right of reply. . He says that this act must stop.

Speaking during the stakeholder dialogue on the theme: "The safety of journalists in Ghana," David Eklu, director general of Ghana's Public Affairs Directorate, said all media owners have the responsibility to inform their journalists of their safety when they are present grounds for conflict.

Adding that it is necessary that journalists distinguish themselves from others by identification.

"The identity of the journalist is essential … the responsibilities of the media owners are also essential. Do you give security information to your journalists before they go into such operations? What about command and control, how many journalists are family members of the Ghana Police Service? He asks.

There are clear protocols, I believe this is done through training, discussion and information made available to all media. "