GJA Revokes Media Blackout On Hawa Koomson
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has revoked the media blackout imposed on the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson.
It comes after the Minister gave up on her entrenched stance against the abuse of David Kobina, a journalist with Cape FM in the Central Region, and pledged her unalloyed assistance in bringing the perpetrators to book.
During an extensive meeting with stakeholders on February 15, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East constituency said, “I will give you the necessary support” to ensure justice for David Kobenna.
In a press statement, the GJA announced, “The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), in consultation with its media partners, has revoked the media blackout it imposed on the Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu-Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, and urged all media houses to comply accordingly.”
Meanwhile, there is still one active blackout imposition.
The Association has called on the media to continue to enforce the blackout imposed on the MP for Yendi, Farouk Aliu Mahama, who allegedly assaulted Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira, the Northern Regional correspondent of Citi FM/TV, during the NPP parliamentary primaries, on January 27, 2024.
Background
The GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, on January 25 imposed a media blackout on Hawa Koomson after she contradicted reports of abuse on the journalist by her associates during the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s parliamentary aspirant vetting in the constituency.
Hawa Koomson defended her associates against any wrongdoing.
The National Media Commission (NMC), however, has faulted the strategy deployed by the GJA in dealing with assaults on journalists.
The Chairman of the Commission, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, had criticized it as dis-functioning and impunity.
“This has resulted in the equally unilateral decision of the GJA to call for a boycott or blackout on such people. While the approach is very popular it is dis-functioning…While it is disheartening for journalists to be attacked violently, the unilateral resolution to blackout or boycott is not the most productive reaction. We cannot fight impunity with impunity.’’
