The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has announced a media blackout on Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister of Fisheries and Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East Constituency.
This comes after thugs allegedly connected to Koomson attacked David Kobbina, a journalist from Cape FM in the Central Region.
On January 4, 2024, the unfortunate attack on the journalist took place, drawing strong criticism. The victim clarified that he was a radio station morning show host, refuting the attackers’ accusation that he had insulted Hawa Koomson on a TV show.
He even showed his ID card to support his claims, but the attackers still attacked him in front of the policeman who had approached the victim initially.
Following the event, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to which Hawa Koomson belongs, was urged by Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, to launch an immediate investigation and impose penalties on the attackers of the journalist.
In addition, he urged the Ghana Police Service to look into the incident right away and apprehend those responsible.
He underlined the necessity of disciplining the police officer who called Kobbina prior to the assault for acting in an unprofessional manner, and he added that the GJA’s preliminary investigations have confirmed the incident.
“This is the height of impunity, and we can no longer tolerate the same. We hereby serve notice that if by the close of Friday, January 12, 2024, these demands (sanctions) have not been met, we shall advise ourselves accordingly,” said the GJA president in response to the attack.
Nonetheless, on Thursday, January 25, GJA president Albert Kwabena Dwumfour announced a complete media blackout on Hawa Koomson during a press conference that was attended by senior journalists and addressed by the GJA leadership in collaboration with foreign stakeholders.
The association was forced to use its authority to protect its members because, in the GJA’s opinion, neither the police nor the NPP have done anything to stop the journalist’s attack.
It further stated that journalists should avoid the minister, who also serves as a lawmaker, because she is surrounded by dangerous and irrational people who pose a threat to them.
GJA urged all media outlets and journalists nationwide to support the proclamation in order to fulfill its intended goal for the benefit of the media community as a whole. It further stated that if decisive action is observed being taken against the individuals responsible for the abhorrent attack on David Kobbina, the blackout may be reviewed. It also exhorted journalists to act with the utmost professionalism and prioritize their safety during the upcoming NPP parliamentary primary elections.
Hawa Koomson, meanwhile, denied rumors that she was part of the attack on the defenseless journalist. She said that any reports that connected the incident to her were untrue and that her opponents were intentionally trying to damage her reputation in order to gain political advantage.
