This comes on the back of a statement issued by the GJA cautioning the media to refrain from destroying local entrepreneurs and local businesses in the name of investigative journalism.

“We (the media) should also be mindful of using the media to wage a smear campaign against individuals especially local businesses and personalities who have made substantial contribution to the growth of the economy …,” the GJA said in the statement.

The GJA’s call came in the wake of the Jospong Group’s [owners of, Zoomlion and other subsidiaries] denial of claims that it inflated the cost of a contract it had with the Mahama government to supply waste bins.

The MFWA in a rebuttal however wondered why the GJA gave such a directive, especially when it failed to provide context or reference to “any specific recent or past instances that could warrant the unusual cautionary note.”

According to the MFWA, the GJA issued this without “pointing to any specific instances, examples or evidence in the past or present, of any acts of smear campaign by any investigative journalist(s) against any personalities or businesses, local or foreign.”

“Given the palpable absence of context and the lack of reference to any specific recent or past instances that could warrant the unusual cautionary note from the GJA, one is compelled to seek answers to the following consequential questions from the GJA:What is the basis of the release? What is the underlining reason for the release? Who have been tried and pronounced guilty in and by the media? Who is waging a smear campaign in the media and against which local businesses or personalities? What are the specific instances of unfair, unbalanced, fabricated reporting by an investigative journalist? Responses to the above questions by the leadership of the GJA will help clear any doubts about the agenda the leadership of the association sought to set with the unusual statement,” the MFWA added.

It therefore urged reporters  who “are committed to the true values of journalism to remain unwavering in their fight against corruption.”

The MFWA declared its support for reporters interested in exposing corruption , saying “we remain committed to supporting the few honest, dedicated and selfless journalists who continue to risk their lives and work tirelessly to expose corrupt personalities and businesses who perpetrate fraud on the nation. Corrupt personalities and businesses must be exposed by the media and punished by the state whether they are Ghanaian or foreign.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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