The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has urged stronger action to end impunity for crimes against journalists in Ghana, following a disturbing trend of attacks on media workers this year.
In a statement marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the GJA emphasized the need for swift police investigations and prosecutions in cases involving violence against journalists.
According to the GJA, 13 journalists and media outlets were attacked between January and October 2024. Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were reportedly responsible for three of the nine cases documented, with unknown assailants involved in three other incidents.
The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of cases, with four incidents, highlighting a concerning trend of media-targeted violence.
The reported attacks varied in nature, including physical assaults, a gunpoint threat, a petrol bombing, and cyber intrusions. Notable incidents include an October gunpoint assault on Erastus Asare Donkor of Joy FM by alleged associates of Edelmetallum Mining Resources Limited, a petrol bomb attack on Class FM in April, and a significant cyberattack on The Fourth Estate, an investigative platform managed by the Media Foundation for West Africa, following their exposé on the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat.
The GJA expressed frustration with the slow pace of police investigations, noting that no arrests have been made in any of these cases. The organization is calling for a more robust response from state agencies to ensure justice and prevent future incidents.
This year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists is themed “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies.” The GJA highlighted threats posed by illegal mining activities (galamsey), tensions in parliamentary activities, and the charged political environment as factors heightening the risk for journalists.
The organization appealed to the Ghana Police Service to provide adequate protection for journalists covering these critical issues.
The GJA also emphasized the role of the public in supporting the media, which it noted operates in the public’s interest, despite often facing significant risks.
The global observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists is set to take place from November 6 to 7, 2024, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
