KON To Government: Address Attacks On Journalists

Former Information Minister and Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called on the government to revive and strengthen the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists to address attacks, threats and intimidation against media practitioners.

He said protecting journalists required more than public assurances of press freedom, insisting that practical measures must be put in place to ensure media practitioners could perform their professional duties without fear of violence, harassment or intimidation.

Speaking in connection with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said attacks on journalists remained a threat to press freedom and the broader democratic space.

He noted that efforts to undermine freedom of expression extended beyond physical attacks on journalists to include arrests, detentions and other measures that could discourage individuals from expressing critical opinions.

The former Information Minister expressed concern about developments in Ghana over the past one or two years, citing what he described as instances of trumped-up charges, arrests and detentions involving individuals over statements they were alleged to have made, sometimes under the pretext of national security.

He cautioned that such developments, if not properly addressed, could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and weaken the country’s record on freedom of expression.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah urged the current administration not to become complacent because of perceived goodwill from sections of the public or the apparent silence of some civil society organisations.

He said governments had a continuing responsibility to protect the rights of citizens, including those who expressed dissenting or critical views, stressing that freedom of expression remained fundamental to democratic governance.

Recalls journalists’ safety mechanism

The Ofoase-Ayirebi MP also recalled the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists, established through the National Media Commission (NMC) during his tenure as Minister for Information, as a key intervention to address attacks and intimidation against media practitioners.

The mechanism was designed to provide an organised framework for reporting, documenting and following up on incidents involving threats and attacks against journalists.

It was also intended to strengthen collaboration between relevant institutions, particularly the Ghana Police Service, to ensure that reported cases were investigated and perpetrators held accountable.

According to Mr Oppong Nkrumah, the arrangement required the Police Service to provide updates on investigations and legal actions taken in reported cases, including periodic and annual reports.

He said the initiative was based on the understanding that condemning attacks against journalists alone would not address the problem without effective investigations and consequences for perpetrators.

The former minister’s comments revive attention to an announcement made by the Ministry of Information on October 29, 2023, when he called on the Police Service to provide regular updates on investigations into attacks against journalists.

Speaking at the 27th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, he expressed concern about what he described at the time as a growing trend of attacks and intimidation against journalists and media organisations.

He disclosed that information available to the ministry suggested that the situation was worsening and warned that the trend posed a threat to Ghana’s democratic credentials.

He also identified the absence of swift and serious consequences for perpetrators as one of the factors contributing to the persistence of attacks against media practitioners.

Consequently, he urged the Police Service to expedite investigations into reported cases and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.

Other interventions announced at the time included collaboration with civil society organisations and relevant stakeholders to educate state and non-state actors on journalists’ safety, as well as support for media associations and owners to improve working conditions and protect journalists’ rights.

Warns against allowing mechanism to become inactive

Despite the interventions introduced during his tenure, Mr Oppong Nkrumah expressed concern that the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists was not receiving sufficient attention to sustain its objectives.

He said he had not seen much further action surrounding the initiative and urged the current administration to ensure that it did not become inactive.

According to him, sustaining and strengthening the mechanism would provide a more structured response to attacks against journalists and ensure that reported incidents received the necessary institutional attention.

He also observed that the media landscape had evolved significantly, particularly with the expansion of digital platforms, which had broadened the space for producing and sharing information.

He therefore called for the country’s press freedom and journalists’ safety interventions to reflect the changing nature of journalism and the increasing number of people participating in public communication.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah maintained that protecting journalists should be treated as a shared national responsibility involving government, law enforcement agencies, media organisations, civil society groups and the general public.

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