Accra, May 7, - The Association of Women in Media (ASWIM)
has condemned the assault on one of its members, Ohemaa Sakyiwaa, a reporter
with Adom FM by Hajia Fati, a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Ohemaa Sakyiwaa was assigned to
cover an event at the NPP Headquarters on Friday, May 4 when she was attacked
for carrying out her duty.
A release signed by Mrs Mavis
Kitcher, the interim President for ASWIM, said, Party members were picking
nomination forms to contest the national executive positions when Sakyiwaa was
assaulted.
“We unequivocally condemn the
assault on Ms Sakyiwaa while she was performing her duty as a journalist and
call on the police to investigate and take immediate action on the matter to
stop the maltreatment and harassment of reporters in their line of duty,” it
added.
Giving the details, it said,
Sakyiwaa, in the course of her duty, saw Hajia Fati when she arrived at the NPP
office; so, she went to her to introduce herself and requested for an
interview.
However, a man by Sakyiwaa told
her that Hajia was too angry to speak with her.
It said, the reporter then
proceeded to do other things by capturing other events with the camera on her
phone and later go for interviews, including talking to Hajia Fati.
The statement said, unfortunately
for Sakyiwaa, just as she begun taking photos, Hajia Fati smashed the phone and
slapped her on the mouth.
She was quickly rescued by other
Party members present who sent her to their office.
“Indeed, it is unfortunate that
such maltreatment of a journalist should occur in the 21st Century and
immediately after the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, here in
Ghana, when Ghanaians were so proud that the country was ranked 23rd in the
world and first in Africa by Reporters Without Borders on the World Press
Freedom Ranking list for an environment conducive to freedom of the press and
for democracy to thrive.”
It continued that President Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently condemned acts which restricted the practice of
journalism when he addressed journalists of the world at the dinner and awards
ceremony in Accra.
If journalists were forced to consider
their safety first and were able to cover events which could put their lives at
risk, this would be to the detriment of the nation and Ghana’s democracy, the
statement said.
The interim President of the
ASWIM noted that the Association took a very serious view of the assault on
their member and demanded that the necessary action be taken against Hajia Fati
to deter members of the public who took the law into their own hands and
blatantly disregarded the human rights of others, especially, journalists and
continue to manhandle and treat them with disdain.
It said it would ensure justice
was served in the matter.
GNA
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