Oppong Nkrumah charges security agencies to deal with threats & attacks against journalists

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has spoken against the threat to the life of Manasseh Azuri Awuni. This is a very good intervention by the Minister. We would need more support from his Ministry for these victims of threats and attacks in the interim as the security forces move to deal with the issues.

The IGP & his team should take these threats very seriously and deal with them. These attacks against the media & media safety should be taken very seriously by the State & State Actors. These cowards should be told that these dastardly acts would not be accepted in our democracy. 

The media also needs to act in a sustainable manner and go beyond the statement issued by the GJA. We should demand action from the IGP and the Security apparatus to ensure that these attacks are brought to the barest minimum. Our response should make it very unattractive for these attacks and the perpetrators should find it an unappealing venture.

Already we have several cases of attacks on the media including the case of Pius Asiedu a reporter of Newswatchgh.com who was shot at Ablekuma Central Collation Centre on 8th December 2020 by Collins Kwaku (Kola).

This is how www.myjoyonline.com carried the story:

The Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has charged the security agencies to deal with threats and attacks against journalists.

It follows recent incidents of attacks and threats on some media practitioners including investigative journalist Manasseh Azuri Awuni and Angel FM morning show host Captain Smart.

Interacting with journalists from Ofoase where he is the MP, Mr Nkrumah said “a number of journalists have reported threats and at least one (1) robbery in the aftermath of the 2020 elections.

“It has been suggested that these threats are associated with their work as journalists.

“It is of critical importance that our security agencies get to the bottom of these complaints and use all the legitimate means at their disposal to unmask the identities of the culprits – whatever their motives – and arrest and prosecute them with speed”

He said, “Ghana’s enviable reputation as a protector of journalists’ rights and freedoms must be preserved.”

His comments follow several attacks against journalists during and after the 2020 General elections.

Among those to have been attacked include Investigative Journalist Manasseh Azure, who after a recent opinion piece on the 2020 Elections received a death threat from a reader who thought the journalist was siding with the opposition NDC.

On Sunday dawn, Captain Smart of Angel FM was also robbed at his home in Tantra hills.

The thieves took away his car parts and promised to return.

In a note they left on one of his cars, they said, “Captain Smart keep supporting NPP. This is just the start and the beginning. We will come back.”

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