GJA Condemns Arrest, Maltreatment Of Journalists In Thursday’s Demonstration

ACCRA, September 22, 2023 – The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has strongly condemned the Ghana Police Service for the arrest and maltreatment of journalists covering Thursday’s demonstration in Accra. The GJA views the conduct of the Police as highly unprofessional and a clear violation of press freedom.

The GJA is deeply disappointed in the Police for their actions, which lowered the bar of professionalism. Journalists, who were carrying out their duty of informing the general public about the events in the country, were arrested and maltreated without any legal justification.

Investigations have revealed that journalists from various media organizations, including the BBC, AFP, and AP, were arrested despite properly identifying themselves. Some journalists were even manhandled, and their working equipment was seized, leaving them traumatized.

One incident involved a Metro TV reporter who was arrested at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters for capturing video footage. She was reportedly manhandled by police officers after her arrest. The journalists were arrested near the 37 Lorry Station, a converging location for the demonstrators, and were transported in the bucket of a police pick-up vehicle, guarded by armed police officers, to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters.

It has been discovered that the police officers who made the arrests failed to inform the journalists about their offense, simply stating that they were acting on “orders from above.” However, a senior police officer later ordered their release, acknowledging that journalists were not the intended targets of the arrests.

Unfortunately, the Police did not allow the journalists to drive their own vehicles to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters. After their release, the journalists were left stranded as they tried to find their way back to the 37 Lorry Station area to retrieve their vehicles.

The GJA strongly condemns the unprofessional and inhumane conduct of the Police. The least that was expected from the Police was an unqualified apology to address the violation of the journalists’ human dignity and the unwarranted attack on press freedom.

The GJA is shocked by a Police press release issued on Thursday, September 21, 2023, denying the arrest of two BBC correspondents. The Police press release described media reports as “erroneous” and stated that the reports should be disregarded. However, investigations have confirmed that two BBC correspondents were indeed arrested by the Police.

The GJA questions the honesty of the Police’s denial and their attempt to discredit the media. If the Police admit to the arrest and release of two journalists, it is only fair that they disclose the identities of these journalists to put their denial beyond doubt.

The GJA calls on the Police to act in good faith and issue an unqualified apology to all journalists who were wrongfully arrested and maltreated. Journalists were simply carrying out their constitutional mandate, and their mistreatment by the Police is unacceptable.

The GJA expresses its sympathy to the affected journalists and wishes them a speedy recovery from the physical and emotional harm they endured. The GJA also encourages the media fraternity to remain steadfast in their commitment to their profession and not be intimidated by such attacks on their person and media freedom.