General News of Tuesday, 7 December 2004

Source: GNA

TUC condemns attack on a Journalist

Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - The Trade Unions Congress (TUC) on Tuesday condemned the attempted abduction of Ms Afua Dzansi Asamoah, the Volta Regional Correspondent of JOY FM over the weekend. It said the act was criminal and cowardly and called on the Inspector General of Police to order investigations into the matter and bring the culprits to book.

A statement in Accra signed by Mr Kweku Darko Aferi, Head of the Public Affairs Department, said the TUC was more worried by the injection of Ms Asamoah with an unidentified substance, the effect of which could not be ascertained immediately.

"The TUC wishes to observe that among the general fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Ghana is the right of all persons to freedom of speech and expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media."

The statement said Journalists and Media Personnel have a crucial role to play in the advancement of freedom of speech and expression, which was sine qua non in the consolidation of democracy.

Journalists should, therefore, not be intimidated or unjustly restrained in the performance of their duties, it said.

"We also call on the Media not to be intimidated by this cowardly act, especially at this crucial period of the Nation's history, but to persevere in all their endeavours so that democracy can be preserved for our common good now and in the future," it said.

Some unidentified assailants attacked Ms Asamoah over the weekend and injected her with an unknown substance in an apparent attempt to abduct her.