The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a red alert, calling on the Ghana Police Service to act decisively to bring justice to a journalist who a senior police officer assaulted during the Ablekuma North parliamentary election re-run.

According to the association, it will no longer accept symbolic condemnations without action, a development that has characterised recent activities involving assaults on journalists by police officers.

The President of the association, Albert Dwumfour, stated this during a press conference held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, to address the association's concerns over the rising incidents of assaults on journalists in recent times.

He mentioned, "We will no longer allow the work of journalists to be criminalised under the pretext of national security or public order. The GJA will not be silent or tolerant in the face of systemic violence against journalists."

He warned that the association, in consultation with its stakeholders, will be compelled to "announce a nationwide media blackout of all police activities".

This action, he mentioned, will be triggered "If the Ghana Police Service fails to act decisively within the next 7 days" to deal conclusively with the matter involving a senior police officer captured on tape assaulting a journalist during the Ablekuma North parliamentary election re-run.

This move, in the view of the GJA, has become inevitable in the face of what the association calls a worrying trend where security agencies appear to have developed a penchant for "causing harm and meting out brutalities to journalists."

"We will instruct our members to withhold coverage of police events, refuse participation in police press briefings, and suspend all forms of editorial engagement involving the police". Dwumfour hinted.

The above actions, according to Dwumfour, have become necessary to defend the dignity and safety of every Ghanaian journalist.

He further hinted that the GJA shall, through its legal team, file civil assault cases against officers who attack journalists in the face of seeming state protection for individual misconduct.

"We shall collaborate with human rights bodies locally and internationally to document and pursue justice for each assaulted journalist". He emphasised.

In recent times, journalists have become soft targets for state security operatives, as some journalists have been brutally assaulted by either the police or uniformed military personnel.

These attacks have received massive condemnations from well-meaning Ghanaians, including President Mahama, who is a card-bearing member of the Ghana Journalists Association.

NAAB/SEA

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