Attacks on journalists somewhat influenced by Akufo-Addo’s ‘body language’ – Manasseh Azure
Editor-In-Chief of The Fourth Estate, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has attributed the continuous attacks on journalists in the country by state actors and party followers to the President’s unwillingness to crack the whip.
According to him, various state actors close to the Presidency have been engaged in attacks against journalists over the past years and still, none have received proper attention and sanction from the President.
Basing his judgement on Ghana’s performance in the World Press Freedom Index, Mr Azure said the President’s body language somewhat influences his party followers to continue attacking journalists.
“Last year, for instance, if you read the Information Minister’s press statement, they mentioned other countries that also did poorly compared to their previous rankings.
“Now, we have Ahmed Suale who was murdered after he was openly threatened by a top politician of the governing party and we had the President of this country go the Bar conference in Takoradi and said inasmuch as the death was unfortunate, it was equally unfortunate for people to say that his killing was linked to press freedom.
“When the President acts in this manner, the followers begin to think that it is okay for us to do what we have to do or we want to do to journalists,” he said, speaking JoyNews’ Newsfile.
“The difference is clearer than day and night” because “not only have we seen increased attacks but we are looking at the severity and also the actors involved.”
“It was very common to threaten somebody, and one would take it lightly, but if your colleague investigative journalist is put on television and threatened, and later that person is killed, you are going to treat threats seriously and differently.
“Also, we are beginning to see state actors that are getting involved; the National Security, and we know the National Security in Ghana is like an extension of the government or the governing party. So, we saw what the National Security did to the Modern Ghana journalist – till date; we have not been told the offence this journalist committed, apart from knowing that he had published something unpalatable about the National Security Minister at the time,” he added.
In the same interview, Head of JoyNews’ Political Desk, Evans Mensah, has said many journalists in the country are now looking over their shoulders when working on stories that could affect powerful people.
According to him, many newsroom actors have had to self-censor to avoid the wrath of politicians who wield power, and their supporters are always ready to attack.
“We are self-censoring more now than we used to be. You are writing a headline and you are thinking a bit more about the implication of this headline than you would do before. For me, that is one of those silent areas we haven’t talked about.
“There must be a reason for this, and I have disagreed with the President quite forcefully when his public utterances, unfortunately, reinforce this view and leads journalists to self-censor a bit more,” he remarked.
