President John Dramani Mahama has said he will not preside over a government that abuses or intimidates journalists in doing their duties.
John Mahama condemned the attack on JoyNews journalist Carlos Calony by some military men during the demolition of a warehouse belonging to McDan at Spintex, Accra.
According to John Mahama, he has instructed that the incident be investigated and the officers involved be sanctioned accordingly.
The President further revealed plans to convene a meeting with the heads of security services and the leadership of GJA for the military troops to see the media as partners in development.
Speaking at the swearing-in of newly appointed deputy ministers on Thursday, July 31, President Mahama stated, “Allow me to condemn in the strongest terms the assault in the recent incident involving the manhandling of some journalists by our security personnel. Such conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated”.
“I have instructed that the incident be investigated and the officers involved be sanctioned accordingly. As a card-bearing member of the GJA, I will not preside over a government that abuses or intimidates journalists in the lawful exercise of their duties”, he added.
Mahama revealed, “I will soon convene a meeting with the heads of security services and leadership of GJA to plan a programme to orient our troops to recognise the media not as enemies but partners in development”.
President Mahama’s comment comes on the back of a video going viral of military personnel assaulting an eyewitness while he was speaking to a JoyNews reporter, Carlos Carlony, about McDan’s Warehouse demolition.
The eyewitness was speaking to the journalist when the military man stopped the interview, questioning them about what they were doing at the site.
The military men later assaulted the eyewitness with a belt, with three other military men joining in to assault the man.
JoyNews reporter Carlos Carlony also later recounted that he was assaulted and forcefully detained by armed military men.
Also, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has demanded that the government immediately arrest and interdict the National Security operatives.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday, July 30, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour stated, “We expect the government, even though we welcome their condemnation, to immediately interdict and arrest the security officers involved and begin investigations.
If, after investigations, they are not guilty, then they can be released. But what is the meaning of just issuing a directive for investigations while we sit back and watch?” he queried.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has made known that they have initiated a probe into the conduct of some of its personnel over the incident involving the JoyNews journalist Carlos Calonyand the eyewitness.
A press release issued by the Department of Public Relations at GAF Headquarters stated, “In line with the directive from the Presidency, the Ghana Armed Forces wishes to inform the general public that investigations have begun into the inappropriate conduct of some soldiers during an encounter with some journalists”.
