The Media Foundation for West Africa has started a petition demanding better safety for journalists in Ghana.
This petition has been prompted by the recent verbal attack on Erastus Asare Donkor, a journalist with Luv FM, by the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Honourable Kennedy Ohene Agyapong who also called for the journalist to be beaten.
This concern is born out of Kennedy Agyapong’s similar attacks on the late under-cover journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale who was later murdered.
Between January and June 2021 about 10 journalists have been abused in the line of duty. About 30 journalists were abused last year.
We are petitioning Parliament, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General to ensure that:
a. Honourable Kennedy Agyapong is summoned before the Disciplinary Committee of parliament over his attacks on Erastus Asare Donkor, journalists and the media generally
b. Adequate security is provided to Erastus Asare Donkor by the Ghana Police Service
c. The officers involved in the brutal assault on Caleb Kudah, particularly Lt-Colonel Acheampong, are appropriately sanctioned
d. The Inspector General of Police and the Attorney-General are summoned to brief the House on the status of investigations into the murder of Ahmed Suale
This petition will be submitted not later than Friday, July 17, 2020.
MFWA is inviting journalists and friends of the media to kindly click on the link to sign the petition: chng.it/8csqnQ5hLj
Credit: MFWA
