The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has condemned in the strongest form, the recent assault on Yahya Kwamoah, a reporter of the state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) by presidential staffer, Stan Dogbe.
Stan Dogbe seized and smashed a voice recorder of the journalist who had gone to the 37 Military Hospital to follow up on the accident involving the presidential press corps.
The MFWA in a statement described Dogbe’s action as “embarrassing and shameful.”
It further stated that :“Dogbe should be the last person to antagonise the media, knowing the difficult conditions under which journalists in Ghana work and the important role they play in advancing our democracy.”
Why is GBC silent?
MFWA also wondered why the state broadcaster had been “silent” on the issue since the incident occurred.
“We are also alarmed at the silence on this matter of GBC whose employee is the victim of the assault,” the Association indicated.
While urging the GBC to report the matter to police for investigations, the MFWA also called on the presidency to “conduct a thorough investigation into the conduct of Stan Dogbe and take the appropriate action.”
It also encouraged media practitioners to “assert” themselves and discharge their duties with “dignity and professionalism at all times in order to earn the respect they deserve from the public.”
The Executive Director of the MFWA, Suleiman Braimah on Eyewitness News stated that Stan Dogbe should be prosecuted if it is established after investigations that he breached the law.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah