The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has announced a series of measures to be enforced if the Ghana Armed Forces fail to sanction military personnel who assaulted a JoyNews journalist, Carlos Carlony
during a recent operation in Accra.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, July 31, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour issued a strong warning to the military high command, stating that the Association will not relent until justice is served.
“The military should understand that failure on their part to expose and sanction the said perpetrators of this crime will have damning consequences, and we will embarrass them,” Dwumfour stated.
“We are not just serving notice. We are not threatened. We have done our work and are prepared. If you fail to do so, we shall come out boldly and expose your men.”
He stressed that the assault on the JoyNews journalist, which occurred while the reporter was covering a demolition exercise, was a direct attack on press freedom and a violation of the journalist’s rights, even after identifying himself clearly to the officers involved.
In response to the incident, the GJA outlined a series of robust measures it will pursue should the military fail to take appropriate action:
1. Civil Lawsuits Against Offenders
The GJA, through its legal team, will file civil suits personally against officers involved in the assault of journalists. The association made it clear that it will not allow state protection to cover individual misconduct, and perpetrators will be held liable in their capacities.
2. Collaboration with Human Rights Bodies
The GJA will work with both local and international human rights organisations to document all assaults on journalists and pursue justice comprehensively.
3. Diplomatic Sanctions
The Association will formally petition key embassies, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, and the European Union Delegation in Ghana, to revoke or deny visas to identified security officers who have assaulted journalists.
The GJA will urge these foreign missions to consider such individuals as threats to press freedom and national security risks.
4. International Blacklisting
Letters will be sent to the United Nations, UNESCO, African Union, and ECOWAS, requesting sanctions against violators of press freedom. The GJA will advocate for such officers to be barred from international peacekeeping missions, postings, and assignments.
5. Internal Sanctions Within Security Agencies
The GJA will petition the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police Council to ensure that any officer found guilty of attacking journalists is disqualified from promotion and subjected to internal disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces has announced the commencement of investigations into the alleged misconduct of its personnel.
GJA threatens media blackout on Police over attacks on Journalists
