Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayebuafo, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), has described the blacklisting of two politicians by the Ghana Journalist Association as ‘dysfunctional and unproductive’.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association had directed all media houses to close their platforms to Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, and Farouk Aliu Mahama, Member of Parliament for Yendi, for their involvement in some attacks on two journalists during the recent New Patriotic Party parliamentary primaries.
He described the attacks on media personalities for performing their basic duties of informing the public as unwarranted and advised victims of such unjustified attacks to use legal means to seek redress, which will ensure that ‘the media freedom aspect as well as the criminal dimension are adequately investigated and the necessary legal penalties imposed on the criminals’.
He held the view that while the approach is a populist one, it is dysfunctional and unproductive in that it was the same media that broadcasted the results from the constituencies of the blacklisted members of parliament.
“Many years ago, I caught the displeasure and contempt of the Ashanti Regional Chapter of the GJA when they issued such an order against the Vice Chancellor of KNUST. As usual with some of our journalists, my views were taken as too known. I still hold the position that while it is disheartening for journalists to be attacked violently, the unilateral resolution to blackout or boycott is not the most productive reaction. We cannot fight impunity with impunity.’’
Yaw Boadu Ayebuafo
In concluding his keynote address on the theme ‘Promoting Peaceful Journalistic Media Platforms Ahead of Election 2024’ at a workshop organised by the GJA for journalists from the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo and Bono East regions, the National Media Commission Chairman, Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayebuafo, emphasized that he will support any other effort to achieve justice but not the blackout or boycott.
GJA Chastises NMC Chair For Abusing Their Platform
In reacting to Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayebuafo’s disagreement with the GJA’s blacklisting of some politicians, the President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr. Albert Dwumfour, has described the comments of the Chairman of the National Media Commission as unfortunate and disappointing, especially when the commission had exhausted all other processes before issuing its directive.
He added that the two attacks on journalists under the watch of the two politicians were extraordinary, demanding an extraordinary reaction which was exactly what the GJA did after several deliberations. Mr. Dwumfour expressed his disappointment with the NMC chairman for not ascertaining from the GJA the reason for their position.
“I am surprised and utterly shocked that no other person came here to use our platform to chastise us than the NMC Chair. He is a senior journalist and a veteran and he didn’t even take his time to ascertain from us what informed our position.”
Yaw Boadu Ayebuafo
He insisted that the association was right in its decision to blacklist the two politicians. He further explained the implications of the blacklisting on the two politicians as reducing their media visibility, affecting their international reputation as well as their future endeavors.
The GJA President highlighted the importance of the training as one to harness the capabilities of online editors, producers and talk show hosts in contributing to violence-free media platforms, adding that the association will create platforms to share some best practices of elections among others.
However, Mr. Ayebuafo in a media interview after the training has expressed his disappointment with the GJA President for not addressing his concerns to him directly at the two private discussions they had about the content of his lecture. According to him, the GJA President sought to mar his integrity by his comments.
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