 has called on all media houses to give total media blackout to the (MP) for Awutu-Senya East, Mavis Hawa){kind=link}
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called on all media houses to give total media blackout to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu-Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson and stay away from her as an MP, a Minister of State or any other public capacity and position she may hold.
The GJA believes there are thugs, unreasonable and evil-minded people around Hawa Koomson who pose serious threats to the lives of journalists and other media practitioners.
The call follows an assault on a Journalist, David Kobenna, who is a morning show host at the Cape FM, in the Central Region by some thugs while on duty.
The GJA President, Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour said this at a press conference in Accra on Thursday.
David Kobenna, a morning show host at the Cape FM, in the Central Region was assaulted on Thursday, 4th January, 2024, at the Central Regional vetting of parliamentary aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), held at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) by some thugs, numbering about 15 and wearing a branded T-shirt of Mavis Hawa Koomson.
The thugs mistook David for another person they alleged had insulted the MP, who is also the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
According to confirmation by the GJA President, Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, a police officer invited unsuspecting David to establish his identity.
David produced his media house ID Card as evidence of his identity, but in the process of doing so, someone slapped him from behind and other thugs joined in the assault, beating him mercilessly.
Unfortunately, he said the purported police officer who invited David for engagement, did not stop the thugs from assaulting the innocent morning show host.
Due to this, the GJA demanded that the NPP, at the regional and national levels, investigate the matter immediately and identify the culprits; That the NPP, at the regional and national levels, must sanction the perpetrators of the assault on David;That the Ghana Police Service must investigate the incident immediately and speedily in order to prosecute the culprits, and That the Ghana Police Service must investigate and identify the purported police officer who invited David before he was assaulted, and bring him to face sanctions for unprofessional conduct.
GJA also served notice that if by close of Friday, January 12, 2024, its demands had not been met, it shall advise members accordingly.
According to Mr Dwumfour, GJA submitted written petitions to the NPP, both at the national and regional levels, and the Ghana Police Service, pursuant to its demands.
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Addressing the media, Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour said, the deadline has long passed but absolutely nothing has been done by the NPP and the Police in respect of the GEJA’s demands, three weeks after the incident.
“Three weeks after the assault, no arrests have been made and justice has been denied David whilst the thugs continue to walk freely and emboldened to unleash more venom on other persons very soon,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour said,”I must emphasise that we have nothing against the person of the MP but we are scared of people around her.”
He urged the NPP leadership at the national and regional level to endeavour to fish out the thugs who assaulted David and sanction them appropriately.
Mr Dwumfour again advised the Ghana Police Service to speed up with investigations into the assault case and prosecute the perpetrators.
He added that the Ghana Police must identify and sanction the purported police officer who invited David and watched on whilst the innocent he was beaten mercilessly by the thugs.
“Colleagues, our call for total media blackout on Mavis Hawa Koomson is with immediate effect and until further notice. We may reconsider it when we see evidence of action by the NPP and the Ghana Police Service to identify, arrest and prosecute the thugs,” he said.
He assured that the GJA is following this case with keen interest, adding that GJA shall periodically review it and update the general public on the same matter.
The GJA President again encouraged all media houses to rally behind the call and ensure that it has a biting effect.
“This call is in our collective interest. Let’s bear in mind that there are dangerous people around Mavis Hawa Koomson; they can kill you! Whether you are in the studio, home, church, mosque, or public gathering, they can come for your life. That is because they are unreasonable,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour added that, “Just stay away from her and be safe!Thank you for your kind attention.”
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori