Oppong-Nkrumah backs GJA’s decision to blacklist politicians’ attacks on journalists

The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has dedicated his support to the decision of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) to blacklist politicians who attack journalists.

His support follows after the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) blacklisted two Members of Parliament (MPs), Hawa Koomson and Farouk Aliu Mahama, for attacking two journalists in the line of duty.

In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Face to Face, Honourable (Hon) Oppong Nkrumah explained that the use of the blacklist will draw attention to the phenomenon and help in the fight of dealing with the attacks on journalists.

“100%, I support the use of a blacklist as a legitimate tool to bring attention to the cause of journalists and the facts that some persons may have proven to have attacked journalists. If I, as a public officer or politician, reserve the right to say that I will not speak to Citi FM/Citi TV because of X, Y, or Z, why can’t Citi FM also decide to blacklist me for something they consider I have done?”

He, however, asserted that the blacklist tool would not be 100% effective due to the diversity of media ownership and editorial biases and interests.

“I don’t think it will be 100% effective, though, because media ownership is diverse and editorial interests are different. And so, despite an announced blacklist, you will still find some media houses covering these people. But what it does is it draws attention to the phenomenon; it is like a protest. Protest in itself doesn’t resolve the matter but draws attention. For that, I support it.”

Emphasising the protection of journalists, he stated that the ministry is doing its best to combat the attacks on journalists alongside other protection bodies such as the National Media Commission (NMC), Ghana Police Service, and Judicial Service.

“The phenomenon of attacks on journalists has taken an untidy turn. But we haven’t rested on our oars; we have been at full length, trying to combat it. For example, as the ministry itself, we are loud and clear when there’s an incidence of this nature. We go secondly to report to the Ghana Police Service, and we then follow up to ensure that investigations and prosecutions are taking place.”

“If somebody is attacked, and we don’t make a report, we say it on the radio or online, but we don’t actually make a report to the police. We don’t provide the evidence to back it up. It will be difficult for the police to investigate and prosecute. If the police do not apply sterner charges, then they are failing us. If the judiciary is not being tough in terms of the sanctions they apply, they are failing us. We have been firm, asking that the right thing be done,” he added.

Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah also urged the GJA to lay down clear criteria for when the blacklist ought to be used against attacks on journalists.

“It ought not to be used because it is alleged that Kojo has done so. It ought to be used when a certain threshold has been met,” he hinted.