Don’t Be Intimidated – GJA To Media Practitioners Covering Referendum At Oti

The Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has urged media practitioners covering the Oti referendum not to be intimidated.

According to the Association, its role in such elections is enshrined in the Constitution. Hence the threats will not stop them from covering the polls.

Journalists covering the referendum within the Oti area have been cautioned to be extra vigilant over fears of being attacked in the line of duty.

They were also cautioned to station themselves at the collation centre at Jasikan instead of the polling stations

However in a statement signed A.B Kafui Kanyi Regional Chairman said “GJA-Volta however finds the development unfortunate in view of Ghana being an icon of democratic growth and development, following the referendum that ushered in the Fourth Republic.”

“It is our advice that tendencies that could set bad precedents be avoided as we approach the 2020 general elections. A group of people cannot place a “curfew” on media coverage of public elections or determine how the exercise is covered”- the statement further added.

The GJA however urged media practitioners covering the referendum to be highly professional, conscious of their safety to the end of the process.

Below is the full statement:

OTI REFERENDUM AND MEDIA CURFEW

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)-Volta has taken notice of directives from the Regional Police Command restricting media coverage of the Oti referendum to the collation centre at Jasikan.

The Police’s argument of picking intelligence that the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) on the creation of Oti Region and the locals were uncomfortable with unknown faces, including the media observing and covering the polls and could attack them, is welcome.

GJA-Volta however finds the development unfortunate in view of Ghana being an icon of democratic growth and development, following the referendum that ushered in the Fourth Republic.

The country is also noted to have undertaken a number of major national elections and survived predictions of threats and violence unscathed.

We, therefore see the alleged threats from the JCC and the locals, detractive, an act of intimidation and a means to muscle out the media from playing its watchdog role mandated by the 1992 Constitution.

It is our advice that tendencies that could set bad precedents be avoided as we approach the 2020 general elections-A group of people cannot place a “curfew” on media coverage of public elections or determine how the exercise is covered.

By this statement, the Association urges media practitioners covering the Oti referendum to be highly professional, conscious of their safety but not be intimidated. God bless our homeland Ghana and make her great and strong.

Signed

A.B Kafui Kanyi Regional Chairman