The United Press for Development Network has accused government officials, the police and political party partisans for the numerous attacks against journalists throughout 2018.
The organization in a press statement said ” Impunity for crimes against journalists has literally become the order of the day. Despite the several reported incidents of violations against journalists, punishment of perpetrators has been very rare, if any at all,”
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Below is the full statement:
*GHANA SHAMEFULLY RECORDED 31 MEDIA ASSAULTS IN 2018 – UPDN*
Ghana has recorded not less than thirty-one press brutality in 2018.
The vicious and shameful act is mostly led by Security Agencies (Police, Military etc.), Government Officials, Political Party Sympathizers, aggrieved youth among others.
This is a clear manifestation of deteriorating conditions of safety of journalists in a country that has had a positive press freedom record over the years and is currently Africa’s first country and twenty third in the world in press freedom (according to Reporters Without Borders).
These achievements, coupled with hosting the 2018 World Press Freedom Day in Accra Ghana were not enough to curb or minimize the menace this year.
Journalists continue to be vulnerable to brutal attacks, which are perpetrated with gross impunity. The corner stone and foundation of our young democracy quiver when media persons wail and tears bitterly as a result of assaults meted out to them.
United Press for Development Network (UPDN) wishes to officially draw your august attention (media) to the spate at which crime against Media Practitioners is increasingly perturbing.
_For purposes of evidence, below are some incidents of attacks on journalists in 2018._
_*Also, unwarranted verbal attacks
Impunity for crimes against journalists has literally become the order of the day. Despite the several reported incidents of violations against journalists, punishment of perpetrators has been very rare, if any at all.
This culture of impunity for crimes against journalists only emboldens perpetrators and encourages others to abuse journalists at the least opportunity. Many reported crimes go investigated or end with the mere pronouncement by the police to the effect that investigations have commenced.
Authorities in the country have over the years failed to take a strong position against abuses on journalists. Indeed, not even petitions from advocates have succeeded in moving leaders of the country to openly condemn acts of violence against journalists.
Majority of journalists in the country lacks the basic knowledge and skills on safety and thus easily become victims of attacks. The majority of media organizations in the country also fails to train their journalists and do not have safety of journalists policies in place.
Considering the challenges stated above, we hereby call on President Akufo – Addo government addresses them as a matter of urgency in order to improve the safety of journalists’ conditions in Ghana.
*United Press for Development Network (UPDN) will continue to push and mount more pressure to curb this evil and disgraceful canker.*
Thank you.