The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has reiterated its irrevocable commitment to stand by all media practitioners in the aftermath of the 2020 general elections which took place on December 7.
The President of the Association, Mr Affail Monney, in a statement said that, the hard work of these journalists should be commended and not otherwise.
“The GJA strongly believes that these life-threatening experiences, as well as the inestimable sacrifice, sleepless nights, boundless energy, patriotic zeal, reportorial skills, editorial competence, analytical power of journalists and media houses displayed, deserve fulsome commendation and not outright condemnation.”
He stated that, the election had been one with heightened tension, tremendous challenges, and enormous risks occasioned by gunshots which left two journalists critically injured at the Ablekuma Central Collation Centre in Accra.
The statement also noted that, the commendation from the two major political parties, vindicate its high commendation of the media for a good job done.
This comment comes on the back of the leading members of the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), publicly applauding the media for a good job done in the coverage of the general elections.
For the NPP, soon after the declaration of the Presidential election results, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a victory speech at his Nima residence, said: “The praise of the nation goes to the media for the extensive coverage provided before, during and after the conduct of the polls”.
Similarly, the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, at a press conference at the NDC Headquarters in Accra after the declaration of the results, said: “The media have followed us all along the line, carrying our complaints and reservations up to this stage”.
The Association posited that, the comments explained that, although there were few instances of imperfections in the coverage of the elections, they did not, and could not obscure the fact that the media generally excelled, of which Ghanaians had to be proud.
“More pointedly, nothing justifies the verbal attacks, blazing threats and cyber-bullying being perpetrated against certain journalists and media houses for performing their electoral duty and executing their constitutional mandate. The anti-media brew which is bubbling in certain political circles is inimical to press freedom and dangerous to our democracy. This must stop forthwith.”
The GJA also demanded and urged that, it is time for conscientious and dutiful citizens of this country to rise and defend the media from any ‘bullet attacks’ and ‘bloodshed calls’ targeted at journalists.
The Association encouraged all journalists to go about their professional work unafraid and unintimidated while injecting the highest degree of circumspection in their work adding that, they should also be cautious not to fan the flames of tension or stoke the embers of violence.
The Association then also appealed to the media community to lend their full support to moves which will help calm down tempers and pull the nation back from the precipice it finds itself.
