The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, has emphatically stated that the media requires no formal invitation to fulfill its constitutional duty of informing the public.
This declaration follows threats issued by Alhaji Masawudu, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Third National Vice Chairman, against journalists from Media General.
Alhaji Masawudu recently warned Media General reporters to stay away from NPP events, threatening physical violence if they covered party activities. The incident escalated after he was captured on video pushing down a TV3 microphone during a press conference, an act he later acknowledged.
At a press conference in Accra, Dwumfour condemned the remarks as a direct threat to Ghana’s democracy and rule of law.
“Whenever and wherever the public interest calls, the media have a constitutional mandate and obligation to respond”,he asserted.
He added “Unless the matter or issue is private in nature. The media in serving the public interest and the right to know, have a duty to perform their constitutional task. Therefore, Alhaji Masawudu should not prevent or threaten to attack the media for discharging their duty”, he declared.
He urged the NPP to publicly dissociate itself from the threats.
“The NPP must not condone or acquiesce to such threats”, Dwumfour opined.
By: Kwadwo Owusu
