The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has expressed grave concern over death threats and incitement to violence against journalists in the Upper East Region, particularly targeting the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Association, Albert Sore, following media coverage of the protracted Bawku conflict.
Addressing a press conference at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra, GJA President, Albert Dwumfour, described the threats as reckless, criminal and a danger to press freedom, public order and national security.
“The Association is gravely alarmed by death threats, incitement to violence and imminent attacks against journalists in the Upper East Region, especially Mr. Albert Sore, in connection with their professional duties,” Mr. Dwumfour stated.
According to him, journalists covering the Bawku conflict have been labelled enemies, subjected to coordinated online abuse and threatened with death through social media posts, voice notes and other digital platforms. He warned that the situation had created an atmosphere of fear that could easily escalate into mob violence if urgent action was not taken.
Mr. Dwumfour disclosed that the GJA had received a detailed incident report from Mr. Sore, explaining how a professional journalistic engagement was distorted by faceless and pseudonymous actors and used to incite hostility and issue explicit death threats against him and other journalists.
“These threats are not isolated incidents. They form part of a disturbing pattern aimed at intimidating and silencing journalists who are simply doing their constitutional duty,” he said.
While acknowledging initial collaboration with the Upper East Regional Police Command, the GJA President noted that the persistence of the threats suggested existing measures were inadequate. He therefore called for sustained police protection for affected journalists, expedited investigations and the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in issuing threats or inciting violence.
“We call on the Ghana Police Service to publicly reaffirm that threats or attacks against journalists will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Mr. Dwumfour stressed, adding that any harm to a journalist after reported threats would amount to a grave failure of protection.
He revealed that the National Executive of the GJA had formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police to intervene in the matter.
Mr. Dwumfour reiterated that journalists were performing a constitutional role in the national interest, insisting that attempts to intimidate or endanger them in the context of the Bawku conflict were unacceptable.
As part of its response, the GJA has formally designated the Bawku conflict area as an early warning zone for press safety, calling for heightened vigilance, proactive security deployment and continuous engagement with journalists on the ground.
“We will not accept a reactive approach where action is only taken after harm has been done,” he cautioned, putting the state on notice that any attack on a journalist in the Upper East Region would attract sustained national and international advocacy until accountability was ensured.
The GJA President, however, commended the Ghana Police Service for improved collaboration with the Association in recent times and encouraged the Police Administration to deepen cooperation to safeguard journalists, while dealing decisively with any officers who undermine press freedom.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Joshua Asaah | Bolgatanga
