NUGS Condemns Attack on Journalist

Monday, January 16, 2012
NUGS
Condemns Attack on Journalist (Attack on Gifty Lawson is Barbaric)

[Issued
by the National Union of Ghana Students]

The
National Union of Ghana Students, NUGS, has noted with grave concern, the
alleged molestation of the photo journalist, Gifty Lawson, at the Accra High
Court on 12th January, 2012, by operatives of the national security
of the state.


The
Union wishes to state in no ambiguous and unequivocal terms that the said act
was to say the least shameful, irresponsible and undeserving of a country
touted as the beacon of hope for the West African sub region and the African
continent as a whole as far as democracy is concerned. 12th January,
2012 was a day of shame for press freedom and democracy.


A
free and independent media without any fear of brutalities whether by the
security services or civilians is very critical for developing and growing our
young democracy. The media in Ghana has
contributed incalculably to the development of the democracy that we are all enjoying
today. It is therefore heinous that any group of people will visit any form of
attack on these progressive element of a democratic society such as ours. Any
attack on the freedom of the press is deemed subversive oppression and anti
democratic for which the students of Ghana will not countenance.


The
students of Ghana love the air of freedom in the country and as such are
calling on all Ghanaians to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the
peace of this country both present and future. The freedom that we are enjoying
today was won at a very high price and as such must be guarded with
uncompromising jealousy.


We
wish to reiterate the point as has been made by all other progressive forces to
the security service and all concerned that press freedom is essential for any
democracy to thrive. Indeed without press freedom, it would be near impossible
for any democracy to survive in today’s world.

NUGS
wishes to call on the President – Prof Evans Atta Mills to as a matter of
urgency constitute a committee to investigate the matter and bring the
perpetrators of this dastardly act to book to serve as a deterrent to others
who may deign to think that they can do anything in this country and go free.
This
issue deserves the same importance and urgency as the cocaine saga or probably
even more important, for without press freedom there will be no democracy.


In
conclusion, the National Union of Ghanaian Students is in full support of press
freedom and will always champion the course for it. That is what the National
Union of Ghana Students stood for over many years, and that is the tradition
that NUGS seeks to continue. The National Union of Ghana Students will
therefore resist any attempt to stifle press freedom and will always remain on
the side of press freedom and democracy.


Signed.
Peter
Kwasi
Kodjie
Courage Kwasi Nobi
(President-NUGS)
(Gen.
Secretary-NUGS)

(0242879028) (0206497320)

Tel:
+233 242879028
+233 209207555


Address:

P. O. Box TN 1293,
Accra, Ghana.

E-mail:
president@nugsgh.org
freekodjie@yahoo.com
freekodjie@gmail.com

Website:

http://www.nugsgh.org
http://www.peterkodjie4nugspresident.org