The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called on the leadership of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to publicly release the findings of its internal investigation into the assault on journalist Samuel Addo, warning that continued silence will be interpreted as complicity.
Speaking at a press conference on attacks against journalists on Wednesday, January 28, GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, expressed deep concern over what he described as the Fire Service Administration’s failure to brief the public on the status of investigations into the incident involving officers of the Service.
According to him, the GNFS has not communicated the outcome of its probe, the specific actions taken against the officers involved, or the institutional measures being implemented to prevent future attacks on journalists.
“Accordingly, the GJA entreats the Ghana National Fire Service Administration to come out publicly with the findings of its investigations, the specific actions taken against the officers involved, and the institutional measures being put in place to prevent future attacks on journalists,” Mr. Dwumfour stated.
He stressed that any further silence from the Fire Service leadership would be interpreted as an attempt to shield wrongdoing and undermine accountability.
Mr. Dwumfour, however, commended President John Dramani Mahama for his swift intervention in the matter, particularly the interdiction of the officers implicated in the assault.
The GJA President said the association welcomes the president’s clear position on the incident, which was announced during a working visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and other selected state media houses.
He thanked President Mahama for what he described as a decisive and reassuring response, noting that the action demonstrates the president’s commitment to protecting journalists in the performance of their constitutional duties.
Mr. Dwumfour further noted that the president’s intervention has sent a strong signal to security agencies and public institutions that attacks on journalists will not be tolerated in Ghana.
