The Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), William Nlanjerbor Jalulah, has called on all security agencies across Ghana to provide journalists with maximum security protection on the day of the general election.
Mr. Jalulah made this demand while speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show. His commented become necessary after the recent attack on David Kobbena, a journalist with Cape FM, by thugs alleged to be supporters of Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture.
That attack led to a directive by the GJA for a media blackout of Ms. Koomson’s activities.
The Upper East Regional GJA Chairman believes going forward, especially on the day of the general election, the security agencies need to protect all stakeholders of the election, including journalists, to avoid unnecessary attacks during what he describes as a crucial election.
“We have to send a strong message to the security agencies that everybody, including journalists, should be given maximum protection on the day of the election. So that nobody gets attacked because the person is carrying out his constitutional and lawful duty. Then, we would have a peaceful election,” he said.
“Security services would have their role; the media would have a role to play; so too would the Electoral Commission and the political parties—the main stakeholders in the election. So at the end of the day, we all have to be mindful that when we come out of the election, we will not look back and have regrets because we have taken certain actions or conducted ourselves in a way that will bring a bad image to the country,” he added.
Mr. Jalulah reiterated his call for a blacklisting of the Ghana Police Service for centralizing its communication to the public.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHZ | David Azure | Bolgatanga
