The Awutu Senya East branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticized the directive from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) instructing journalists to refrain from covering activities involving Member of Parliament (MP) Mavis Hawa Koomson. This directive came in the aftermath of an attack on a journalist during the NPP’s vetting of parliamentary aspirants in Cape Coast.
The NPP in Awutu Senya East asserts that both the planning and execution of the attack were not linked to the MP’s camp, making the GJA’s directive unjust. The targeted journalist, Ohene Kwame David from Cape FM, claimed that his assailants, wearing t-shirts bearing the name of MP Mavis Hawa Koomson, had previously expressed discontent with his reporting against the MP on UTV. David suggested that the attackers might have mistaken him for his brother, who is associated with UTV.
Despite the MP denying any involvement and calling for a thorough investigation, the GJA issued the directive on January 25, 2024. The Awutu Senya East NPP leadership expressed disappointment, noting that the MP’s office received no further updates on the investigation from the GJA.
Michael Addy, the NPP’s Awutu Senya East constituency secretary, raised concerns about a statement made by the GJA president, alleging that the MP associates with individuals involved in violent acts, even in homes and mosques. Addy demanded a retraction of this statement and an apology to MP Mavis Hawa Koomson.
The NPP further urged the GJA to conduct a more comprehensive investigation before drawing any conclusions. According to the NPP, its internal investigation within the MP’s camp found that none of the MP’s team members were involved in the reported attack. This dispute raises questions about the journalistic coverage of political events and the need for a thorough and impartial investigation to determine the facts surrounding the alleged attack.
