The Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GHANA) says it has observed with utmost sadness and disappointment the continuous attacks on otherwise hard-working Journalists in Ghana.
A situation the organization has accused the government of using the attacks on the media as a “deliberate strategy” to promote a culture of silence in the country.
In a statement copied Awake News, the organization has cataloged several instances of attacks on journalists for which it has the government has not taken any action to bring justice to the victims.
“For the avoidance of doubt, in recent times, several journalists are being intimidated, issued with death threats, brutally beaten, maimed, and even killed in some cases for performing their lawful duties.
For instance, Armed Suale of Tiger PI was murdered in cold blood for a good job done by exposing the rot at Ghana Football Association (GFA), David Tamakloe of Whatsapp News got his share of the attacks, Some Editors of Modern Ghana online news portal were arbitrarily arrested and thrown into police cells for an alleged publication, the recent arrest of Caleb Kudah at the premises of National Security for allegedly filming vehicles, the rambo style in which Zoe Abu-Baidoo, a female journalist with Citi Fm/TV was arrested and the bizarre suspension of Captain Smart of Angel Fm by his employer for being overly critical of government points to the high level game being played by the ruling class to gag citizens from speaking up on issues that affect them.”
Read the full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
Continuous attack on Journalists is a deliberate strategy by government to promote culture of silence in Ghana
Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GHANA) has observed with utmost sadness and disappointment the continuous attacks on otherwise hard-working Journalists in Ghana.
Though there has been some unfortunate maltreatment of journalists in the past under previous regimes in Ghana, the continuous and unprovoked attacks on journalists under the current regime leave much to be desired.
For the avoidance of doubt, in recent times, several journalists are being intimidated, issued with death threats, brutally beaten, maimed, and even killed in some cases for performing their lawful duties.
For instance, Armed Suale of Tiger PI was murdered in cold blood for a good job done by exposing the rot at Ghana Football Association (GFA), David Tamakloe of Whatsapp News got his share of the attacks, Some Editors of Modern Ghana online news portal were arbitrarily arrested and thrown into police cells for an alleged publication, the recent arrest of Caleb Kudah at the premises of National Security for allegedly filming vehicles, the rambo-style in which Zoe Abu-Baidoo, a female journalist with Citi Fm/TV was arrested and the bizarre suspension of Captain Smart of Angel Fm by his employer for being overly critical of government points to the high-level game being played by the ruling class to gag citizens from speaking up on issues that affect them.
These worrying developments come on the back of concerns being raised that government and its agents continue to intimidate journalists and citizens resulting in the CULTURE OF SILENCE in Ghana, a country highly praised in the comity of nations for her democratic credentials.
CFF-Ghana condemns in the strongest term ever the blatant abuse of power evidenced by the inhumane treatment meted out to citizens under the watch of a President who is highly touted as a human rights advocate. Our question however to the President of the Republic, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo- Addo is; Mr. President, have you all of a sudden forgotten about the human rights of these innocent journalists? In the midst of these brutalities against people of the inky fratenity, are we right to support the ‘Culture of Silence’ position taken by Mr. Sam Jona and other well-meaning Ghanains?
Are we right to say the actions and inactions of government puts fear in the citizens with the intention of gagging them from expressing themselves freely on issues of national importance?
While we commend concerned and patriotic Ghanaians for speaking against the continuous attacks on citizens including Journalists, we would also by this release challenge the government to accept or prove otherwise whether journalists-related brutality is a deliberate strategy by government to cow Ghanaians into silence.
Signed.
Issued by the Communications Directorate.
Cc:
All Media Houses.
The President of the Republic of Ghana, Jubilee House, Accra.
Minister of Information, Accra.
Minister of National Security, Ministries, Accra.
The President, Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)