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Regional News of Thursday, 27 August 2009

Source: GNA

Tema Chapter of GJA condemns attack on journalist

Tema, Aug 27, GNA - The Tema Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the attack on one of its members, Miss Afia Pokuaa of Adom FM, at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Delegates' Conference on Saturday.

It has, therefore, called on the leadership of the NPP to render an apology to the reporter and all journalists in the country. Ms Pokuaa was heckled and dragged on the floor by bodyguards of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, when she attempted to interview the formal President at the Congress.

The condemnation was contained in a Press Statement issued in Tema on Wednesday and signed by Miss Laudia Nunoo, Chapter Secretary. The statement condemned the incident and said the act undermined the Freedom of the Press, and the reporter's fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

It said the responsibility of the media included dissemination of accurate information as well as holding government, public officers and politicians accountable to the public and ensuring that they lived up to their responsibilities.

The statement added that this objective would not be achieved if practitioners were prevented from performing their legitimate duties. It expressed regret about attacks on journalists in recent times by individuals and appealed to all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn the act of heckling and attacks of all forms on journalists to help build the country's democracy.