We Will Not Countenance Attacks On Journalists – GJA President

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has assured members that in 2024, the Association will not countenance any attacks on journalists and media houses.

He bemoaned the increase in the frequency of attacks on journalists and media houses.

Mr Dwumfour expressed these sentiments when he addressed members of the inky fraternity at the GJA Annual Dinner Night on Thursday, December 21. The event, which was held at the Ghana International Press Centre, was also attended by members of the clergy, diplomatic corp and representatives of corporate Ghana.

The GJA President stressed the commitment of the Association in engaging in a fearless fight with any individual or organization that attacks a journalist or media house.

“In recent times, attacks on journalists and media houses have dominated national discourse. We shall fight back fiercely against such attacks. In doing so, we will deploy our strongest weapons, including but not limited to taking legal actions, laying down our pens and microphones, and calling for a blackout on bodies that attack media practitioners or institutions,” Mr Dwumfuor warned.

He, thus called on the three organs of the state and country’s democratic institutions to collaborate with the GJA to curb violence against the media.

Mr. Dwumfuor also admonished his colleague media practitioners and their institutions to exude professionalism in their daily tasks.

“The GJA does not and will not condone unprofessional conduct. We will not shield or provide cover for deviations from professionalism. We will soon roll out a monitoring mechanism based on which we shall call out media practitioners and institutions that lower the bar of professionalism,” he said.

“This shows that we are ready to be fair to everybody and not only to protect the interests of journalists,” the GJA President added.

The Minister of Informartion, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, was the Special Guest of Honour. He deputised for President Akufo-Addo who could not attend due to competing engagements.

Guests at the event were entertained by the tunes of the evergreen Daughters of Glorious Jesus and the rib cracking jokes of Gordons, a Nigerian Comedian among others.