TMA Apologises To GJA

The Tema Municipal Assembly has apologised to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for petitioning the Information Minister, to transfer a Ghana News Agency (GNA) reporter from Tema. In a letter to the President of the GJA, the Secretary to the Assembly’s Executive Committee, Alhaji M.J. Husseini said the request was not to undermine press freedom.

He said the Assembly’s action was based on the reporter’s persistent incorrect publications about the TMA, which have adversely affected its image.

The TMA’s request was in protest against a story filed by George Osei Antwi that cited Mr Ashong Narh, TMA Chief Executive and two others in alleged fraudulent contract awards totalling 1.2 billion cedis. The GNA later retracted the story but nothing has been heard from the SFO on its investigations since then.

Alhaji Husseini also said the Executive Committee acted in accordance with the Local Government Act, which in part grants the committee the right to recommend the replacement of officers within the area of authority of the district assembly.

However, he said, if the recommendation appears to create an impression that the committee is gagging the press, then they render sincere apologies to the journalists association.

The Ghana Journalists Association had condemned the Assembly’s request to the Information Minister to transfer Mr George Osei Antwi, describing it as an act of intimidation.