President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has said that the leadership of the association were saddened to learn about the attack on the Director of News for Angel Broadcasting Network, Kofi Adoma Nwanwani.
According to the leader of the association, the attack was a heavy blow as it came at a time new leadership was contemplating alternative means of beefing up security for its members.
In an earlier press statement, GJA described the attack as dastardly and heinous, while calling for swift investigations to ensure justice is dispensed.
The president, while speaking on Angel FM’s Anopa Bofo Morning Show, explained that “we were disheartened by news of Kofi Adoma Nwanwani’s attack [because] we were at Bosomase brainstorming and discussing how to protect and promote the welfare of journalists.
“We were looking at the safety and security of media and creating an enabling environment for journalists to dispense their duty without fear of attacks and also how to enhance professionalism, ways of applying ethics, the standards and principles of the profession… and how to rebrand the association to reposition from its current state. How to give the association a new image…”, Mr Dwumfour disclosed in the Twi dialect.
The president announced that there are legal ways to deal with journalists when they fall short in their duty other than physical attacks and verbal abuses.
He declared that any attack on journalists is an attack on the Dwumfour administration and therefore, he would not rest until the perpetrators face the full rigours of the law.
“I sent notice at my inaugural speech that institutions and individuals who would set their eyes on journalists with any ill-intent should be wary because there is a new sheriff in town who would go the extra mile, any mile to protect the interests of journalists in this country.
“Kofi’s issue is a test case for the Dwumfour administration. My team and I would follow [through]… We are going to follow the matter to the latter and I’m telling the Angel Brand to remain calm. We will ensure that justice prevails”, he assured in the Twi parlance.
Mr Kwabena Dwumfour further admonished the public that “journalists are partners in national development and ensuring the rule of law in this country and we have the constitutional backing under Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution and no one can take that right away from us. We are the Fourth Estate of the Realm and we will continue to discharge our duties without fear, panic or favour. Nobody can take that from us.”
He further encouraged the public to divulge any information to the police or media that would help in apprehending Mr Adoma’s attackers.
