GJA calls for the arrest of the perpetrators

General news for Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Source: Ghana Times

2020-11-04

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has stepped up calls for the arrest and prosecution of the murderers of murdered investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, famous for his private investigation Tiger Eye.

The call comes as the country joins the rest of the world in marking this year’s International Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists.

The president of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Roland Affail Monney, believed that the surest way to end attacks on journalists and regain public trust in the security forces was to make the perpetrators of crime will present.

He said this at a Forum organized by the GJA together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to him, Ghana was a benchmark and a standard measure for freedom of expression and media freedom in Africa and therefore should ensure that it protects journalists to carry out their duties with confidence.

He explained that “given President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s faithfulness to the rule of law and affinity for the media, we are inclined to believe that arrest will eventually take place and prosecution will naturally follow.”

This, according to Monney, would be “the strongest antidote to the cancerous spread of impunity in Ghana.”

The executive secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), George Sarpong, said it was important that Suale’s killers be found and dealt with in accordance with the law.

He said that “The death of Ahmed and all those who have suffered some kind of atrocities in this profession will inspire us to keep fighting.”

Sarpong said the day was not just a ceremony, but a “Commitment with a greater commitment in which we will fight to demand justice and responsibility for any of us who feel affected by their service to humanity as they seek to serve society through of professional journalism. “

The UNESCO country representative, Abdourahamane Diallo, stressed that journalists were essential to preserve the fundamental rights to freedom of expression guaranteed by article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Therefore, “when journalists are affected with impunity, there is a breakdown in security and systems for all,” he said, adding that it is “by investigating and prosecuting crimes against media professionals that we can guarantee access. to information and freedom of expression. “

Meanwhile, UNESCO figures indicate that between 2010 and 2019, nearly 900 journalists were killed while doing their work, with more than 150 of those murders recorded in the past two years.

UNESCO also reports that many of those journalists lost their lives while covering conflicts, adding that some were also killed for investigating issues such as corruption and political crimes, trafficking, human rights violations and environmental issues.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists’ to commemorate the murder of two French journalists in Mali on November 2, 2013.

During this day, UN member states were reminded to institute measures to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, ensure accountability, bring perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers to justice. , and ensure that victims have access to adequate resources.