The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a strong seven-day ultimatum to the government and the Ghana Police Service to take decisive action on the growing spate of attacks on journalists in the country. At a press briefing in Accra, GJA President Albert Dwumfour expressed deep frustration over the persistent aggression against journalists, warning that the Association will not hesitate to call for a nationwide media blackout on police activities if tangible steps are not taken immediately.
According to the GJA, at least 12 attacks on journalists have been recorded this year alone, many of which have gone unpunished. “These attacks are not isolated incidents but form a troubling pattern of aggression, impunity, and blatant disregard for press freedom,” Mr. Dwumfour emphasized. The GJA is demanding a detailed update on investigations into all reported attacks and wants the perpetrators, including uniformed officers, prosecuted and sanctioned.
The association insists that merely charging suspects is not enough. It wants the Ghana Police Service to make public the identities of officers allegedly involved in the Ablekuma North violence, and to clearly state what disciplinary actions have been taken. “Justice must be seen to be done through a swift, transparent, and fair prosecution that results in meaningful accountability,” the GJA said.
Should the police and government fail to meet these demands within the 7-day timeframe, the GJA will advise its members to boycott all police-related events, declare offending institutions as enemies of press freedom, and escalate international advocacy for sanctions against implicated officers. “This is not a threat,” Mr. Dwumfour stressed. “It is a necessary action to defend the dignity and safety of every Ghanaian journalist.”
