The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has refuted claims that the government is responsible for recent assaults on journalists.
He was responding to comments made by President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Kwabena Dwumfour, on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
The GJA president had claimed that the assault of some seven journalists was unprecedented.
He said that since the start of President Mahama’s administration, seven cases of journalist attacks have been recorded.
Addressing journalists on the issue, the minister described the narrative as “most regrettable” and unfair to President Mahama.
“It was claimed that seven journalists had been attacked, and statements were made that sought to create the impression that there is some design by Mahama and his government to attack journalists. It is a most regrettable narrative. We do not think that it is fair to President Mahama, it is fair to the government, it is even fair to the GJA, or even to the journalists who are reported to have been attacked,” Kwakye Ofosu added.
“I sought to find out exactly what informed that press conference and why other alternative approaches were not adopted to discuss the matters with a view to seeking redress for those who might have been affected. After the conversation, we agreed that early next week there should be a direct interaction between my office and the GJA,” he said.
He assured that President Mahama would never supervise a dispensation where journalists are attacked.
“All of you are aware that President Mahama is an easygoing, down-to-earth, affable individual who relates well with all manner of people. He is a member of the GJA in good standing. Essentially, he is one of you, and therefore he will be the last person to supervise a dispensation where journalists are attacked,” he said.
“The way that the press conference was addressed and the way that the matters were couched created the impression that some journalists had perhaps said or written something that the government was unhappy about, and therefore the government was carrying out reprisals against them.
“But that is completely incorrect. It is not true, and nothing of the sort has happened,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
