March 11, 2016

 
GJA condemns attack on Chronicle’s Reporter, other journalists

Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Accra, April 13, Ghanadot - The Upper East Regional Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has condemned the attack of a The Chronicle Regional Correspondent by some supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Nangodi on Saturday, April 11, 2009.

In a release issued by the Regional Branch of the GJA, it said the association’ attention had been drawn to an alleged case of assault on a reporter of The Chronicle, Mr. William Jalulah by some activists of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nabdam Constituency at Nangodi on Saturday, last week.

The GJA considered these actions by the perpetrators as part of an unacceptable harassment campaign aimed at silencing journalists.

"These actions if proven to be true are a gross miscarriage of justice against our colleague which should not stand," the GJA said.

In the latest incidence, Mr. Jalulah informed the GJA that he was assaulted by a group of supporters of the NDC while he tried to take photograph of a confrontation between the NDC supporters and a man in an NPP T-shirt during an NDC event at Kongo,"

According to the GJA, Mr. Jalulah was among a group of journalists invited by the MP for Nabdam, Mr. Moses Asaga to cover a victory rally being held in his honour.

While on their rounds in the constituency, Mr. Jalulah together with other journalists came across some NDC sympathizers assaulting a man in a NPP T-Shirt, so he decided to take a shot of the scene with a digital camera.

Immediately after taking the shot, a mob numbering about 15 pounced on him in an attempt to forcibly take away the camera to delete the photographs but he resisted which led to his assault.

In the process, the mob not only beat up the journalist, but they also pushed him onto the ground, kicked him severely and bit him on the fingers all in an attempt to snatch the camera from him. This led to the damage of the camera.

Mr. Jalulah was rescued by his colleagues and taken to Bolgatanga where a report was lodged with the Upper East Regional Police command. Meanwhile, He was given a medical form to seek medical attention at the hospital in Bolgatanga.

It would be recalled that Mr. Godwin Narh, a broadcast journalist with Style FM was on Thursday, March 26, 2009 reportedly confronted and verbally assaulted by some political party activists alleged to be members of the NDC for comments he was alleged to have made on his programme which they perceived to be unfavorable to the party.

The GJA sees these practices as a breach of the letter and spirit of Chapter 12 of the 1992 constitution that guarantees the freedom and independence of the media.

The GJA in the region demanded a public condemnation of the senseless act, from the members of the NDC who prepared that act.

‘We are also calling on the MP at whose instance the media went to Nangodi to cover the programme to demonstrate his commitment to article 162 of the 1992 constitution by rendering an unqualified apology and offer the necessary assistance to the Police to enable them arrest the culprits for subsequent prosecution in the civil courts as soon as practicable’.

The GJA therefore demanded an immediate replacement of the damaged Olympus brand digital camera, 8.1 mega pixels.

This will ensure that the rights of journalists and press freedom are upheld in the country.

Ghanadot
 

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