Journalists march against attacks today

A group of journalists under the United Press for Development Network (UPDN) umbrella will today, Friday, 23 November 2018 hit the streets to demonstrate against media brutality in Ghana.

This follows several attacks on journalists in their line of duty.

In a bid to register a unified displeasure, the UPDN says it is poised for a peaceful demonstration today which is scheduled to start from the National Theatre.

Kelvin Malor is Coordinator for the group speaking to Class News said: “it’s just going to be a demonstration where we carry placards with messages…The reason for this demonstration is the recent brutalities meted out to media persons which has become rampant.”

In October, a journalist with Accra-based Top FM, Emmanuel Sackey, was assaulted by members of the pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) vigilante group The Hawks.

The alleged assault occurred at Gomoa Fetteh during the election of the party's Youth and Woman Organisers.

Mr Kwesi Parker Wilson, a journalist with Accra-based Joy FM, was also on Monday, 29 October 2018 assaulted by a member of the security detail of ex-president John Mahama while he was covering the former president’s campaign in the Greater Accra Region.

In March this year, Accra-based Joy News’ Latif Iddris was subjected to severe beatings at the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.

These attacks coupled with a lot more in the past has necessitated the action by members of the UPDN.