The Ghana Police Service has been harshly criticized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for detaining and mistreating journalists during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest on Thursday in Accra.
The GJA expressed dissatisfaction with the police in a news release sent to GraphicOnline and seen by 1Family Radio, calling their conduct unethical and a serious violation of journalistic freedom.
The GJA’s investigations revealed that, despite providing appropriate identification, journalists from a variety of media outlets, including foreign media agencies, notably the BBC, AFP, and AP, were detained. According to the press statement, some journalists suffered from harassment and had their devices seized, which caused them tremendous discomfort.
The press statement stated that in one incident involving a Metro TV reporter at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters, it was found that she had been physically abused by police personnel following her detention for filming happenings in the area.
The GJA thought it was especially concerning that the police officers didn’t give the journalists any information about the precise accusations, instead saying they were following “orders from above.” A senior police officer reportedly ordered their release shortly after they arrived at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters and acknowledged that journalists were not their primary targets.
However, the press release noted that the police, in an uncommon action, forbade the journalists from returning to the 37 Lorry Station area with their own vehicles, rendering them stranded following their release.
The GJA considered the entire incident, including the deployment of a police pickup truck intended for carrying equipment, to be incredibly unprofessional and brutal.
The association stated that in order to redress the harm done to defenseless journalists and the unconstitutional attack on press freedom, the police must issue an open apology. However, the GJA claimed that it was shocked to see a news release from the police on September 21, 2023, which denied the arrest of two BBC reporters.
It claimed that its inquiries had supported the arrest of these correspondents, raising questions about the veracity of the police’s assertion.
The GJA demanded transparency and urged the police to reveal the names of the journalists who were detained and afterwards freed in order to allay any concerns. The association demanded that the police admit their errors and sincerely apologize to the attacked journalists.
The GJA concluded by expressing its support for the journalists directly affected by this occurrence and urging the media to remain steadfast in their adherence to the values of journalism and press freedom.
Source: 1Familyradio