Attacks on journalists are threat to civil society -MFWA

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - A media watchdog, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on Thursday expressed concern about recent attacks on journalists saying they were dangerous threats to civil society in Ghana, which had achieved high levels of progress in press freedom and freedom of expression.

MFWA in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Kwame Karikari said at least eight journalists had been physically assaulted, threatened and insulted in the course of their legitimate duties as journalists in the last eight years.

"Perpetrators of these abuses are no longer government officials, but security personnel and some powerful interest groups such as multinational corporations and suspected drug dealers."

It identified some of the victims as Mr Ebow Hanson and Mr Emmanuel Quaye of 93Daily Graphic=94; Ms Fedelia Achama of 93Daily Guide=94; Mr William Yaw Owusu of 93Ghanaian Times=94 and Mr Jerry Mensah of Dynamite FM at Tarkwa.

The rest are Ms Joyce Danso of the Ghana News Agency; Mr Hackman Afriyie of Asta FM at Techiman and Mr Dickson Gblogbor of 93The Enquirer=94.

"The MFWA notes the regrettable failure of the authorities, especially the Police in Ghana to protect journalists in the exercise of their constitutional and professional duty. Some of these attacks were in the full glare of the security agencies," the statement said. It said in the case of Mr Hanson, who was assaulted by sympathizers of a suspected drug dealer, Prince Tsibu Darko, there was enough evidence to bring the perpetrators to book since the media consistently published identities of the assailants, including their car numbers. MFWA called on the Minister of The Interior and Inspector-General of Police to ensure maximum protection for journalists. It also urged the National Media Commission and the Ghana Journalists Association to take legal action in any of the cases that might warrant such democratic means of redress and protection.