President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has vowed that the two political activists who attacked Abubakari Sadiq Gariba, a radio presenter with Tamale-based Dagbon FM will not go scot- free.
On World Press Freedom Day (May 3, 2023), Abubakari Sadiq Gariba, was physically assaulted during his broadcast.
A video circulating on social media captured the moment when two unidentified men forcefully removed him from his seat and threatened to slap him if he continued to speak.
Gariba then stood up and left the studio with the attackers.
The victim later stated in an interview with Citi FM that he was allegedly attacked by Hardi Pagzaa, a former Northern Regional Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), during the live program.
Gariba explained that he had criticized Pagzaa for discussing the Abudu and Andani conflict on a campaign platform, which he believes was the reason for the attack.
Read Also: Tamale: Dagbon FM presenter attacked during live show on World Press Freedom Day
Speaking on Atinka News with Kweku Atiemo on Friday, Mr Dwumfour condemned the violent attack.
He noted that Ghana had dropped from the Press Freedom Index released on May 3, 2023 by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) from 60 in 2022 to 62 among 180 countries due to attacks on journalists, stating that Ghana rather should be seen doing better to improve its ranking.
According to him, the GJA will not sit down for people to take the laws into their own hands and attack journalists, adding that when the news broke, the GJA sent the Regional Executives of the Association to make a formal report with the victim at the police station.
He recalled that the State of the Ghanaian Media Report by the Communications Department of the University of Ghana and Media Foundation for West Africa, supported by the US Embassy in Ghana, stated that many of the attacks on media personnel are from politicians and security personnel, saying that this very attack was an indication that the report was true.
Mr Dwumfour who commended the NDC for dissociating itself and condemning the act said that was not enough, calling on the it (NDC) to use its Internal Disciplinary process to discipline the perpetrators.
He said all they want is to seek justice for the victim and therefore called on the Police to arrest the suspects after failing to show up when the Police called them for questioning.
The GJA President said the suspects should face the law when they are arrested.
Aside from that, Mr Dwumfour said the case has been given to a Lawyer in Tamale in the Northern Region so that while the criminal prosecution is being tackled, the lawyer will also pursue the civil aspect of the case.
“We will not sit down for things like these to go on. We are entering into the political season and if we sit down and do nothing and we do not use this one as an example, it will escalate. So, this is a test case for the Ghana Journalists Association and the Dwumfour Administration and I can assure the people of Ghana that the perpetrators will not go scot -free,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said when he engaged the Dagbon FM Presenter, he noticed that he was doing fine and was confident justice would be served due to the response by the GJA and other stakeholders.
He again urged journalists to work with the code of ethics of the profession for the development of the nation.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori