GJA issues seven-day ultimatum to NDC over alleged attack on Obaatanpa Radio
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has given the Central Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seven days to publicly admit wrongdoing, apologise to Obaatanpa Radio, compensate the station for losses incurred and withdraw the legal action it has filed against the media outlet.
The Association warned that it would announce further actions to protect press freedom and journalists if the party failed to meet the demands within the stipulated period.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on Thursday, July 9, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor described the alleged actions of the NDC’s Central Regional executives against Obaatanpa Radio as a grave attack on media freedom that should not be accepted in a democratic society.
The GJA’s reaction follows allegations that some executives of the NDC’s Central Regional branch entered the premises of Obaatanpa Radio and compelled the station to suspend broadcasting. The party’s Central Regional Chairman, Richard Asiedu, has been linked to the incident.
Mr Dwumfuor emphasised that although the GJA does not support unethical or unprofessional journalism, individuals or political parties dissatisfied with media content must pursue lawful channels, including dialogue, regulatory complaints or the courts, rather than intimidation, violence or attempts to shut down media organisations.
He said disputes involving the media should be resolved through established legal and institutional processes, warning that unlawful actions threaten the constitutional principles of free expression and media independence.
The GJA President therefore urged the national leadership of the NDC to intervene promptly, address the matter and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
He also appealed to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to fast-track its investigation into the alleged incident and bring those involved to justice.
According to him, a swift resolution would reinforce the message that attacks on journalists and media organisations have no place in Ghana’s democracy.
Commenting on the recent flooding that affected parts of the country, Mr Dwumfuor called on state institutions to rigorously enforce sanitation and environmental regulations to reduce the risk of similar disasters.
He encouraged journalists nationwide to closely monitor and report on the national clean-up exercise launched by President John Dramani Mahama, noting that sustained media scrutiny would strengthen accountability and ensure public officials effectively carried out their responsibilities.
The GJA President also expressed concern over worsening sanitation conditions in many communities, suggesting that some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) had not been sufficiently effective in carrying out their environmental sanitation responsibilities.
He said the Association would continue to monitor the performance of the assemblies while drawing public attention to issues related to sanitation, environmental management and disaster prevention.
Mr Dwumfuor reaffirmed the GJA’s commitment to defending press freedom and promoting accountability, stressing that the Association would continue to condemn and resist every form of intimidation directed at journalists and media institutions.
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