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By Gifty Amofa / Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, May 2, GNA – The Media Foundation for
West Africa (MFWA) on Thursday appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, to respond personally to brutality and the threat of death on the
journalists who were rooted in society.
Government, as well as political parties
publicly condemn these threats and censor "theirs", whose
Statements and actions tend to support violence against the media and journalists.
Professor Kwame Karikari, founder of MFWA
the call during a stakeholder dialogue on the safety of journalists in Accra.
It was organized jointly by the MFWA and the
Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
Even so, he admitted that dozens of media
houses sometimes produce disturbing contents, in a democratic society, such media
the offense, calculated or not, should not justify any reaction
intended to mutilate or murder a journalist.
Prof Karikari said that there were laws such as the
Right to a Rejoinder, which offers recourse to anyone injured by misbehavior on the part of the media
use.
He revealed that MFWA, GJA, Editors Forum,
among other stakeholders developed mechanisms to promote good relations
between the media and the police in terms of media security.
Prof Karikari urged the media to continue to
reflect on some ugly developments that could worsen the threats to journalists,
freedom of the press and civil liberties of citizens.
He said despite the presence of political representatives
militiamen who speak to the media and journalists, "we should be fearless
perform our legitimate tasks.
"I strongly suggest that the media
a relentless campaign, more than any other topic today, to support each and every
measure that will stop this phenomenon from taking root in our politics and
social life ".
Audrey Gadzekpo, Dean of the School of
The University of Ghana, the Information and Communication Studies highlighted the neglect and
the lack of action of the state had created this impunity in the country.
She suggested that protocols within the
the press room should be able to train journalists who are in conflict
areas to cover events while adhering and observing security measures.
The Dean has reported cases of harbadment and abuse
against women journalists should be addressed, adding that the
the protection of journalists should be improved.
Prof Gadzekpo said that it was time for GJA to take action
in court and refuse out-of-court settlements, adding that the judiciary should
also help by giving strong signals to the public that it is wrong to attack
journalists.
She said that the police school should handle a course
about the media so staff can better understand why media workers behave the same way
they do.
Mr Samson Lardy Anyenini, journalist and lawyer
Practitioner advised media professionals to preserve evidence, including
reports to the police in case they are badaulted to win their cases
court.
ACP David Eklu, General Manager, Public
National Gendarmerie of Ghana, Ghana Police Service Advised Journalists
themselves, especially when they cover crowd control events managed by
Security agencies to avoid being mistreated.
Ms. Dora B. Mawutor, Program Manager – MFWA
stated that the dialogue was aimed at raising awareness of the need to defend the press
freedom, Ghana's rank on the mark of global freedom having been reduced from 23 to 27 due to
recent brutalities on the staff.
GNA
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