President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, has described the threat of harm to journalists who work with Media General, by the 3rd National Vice Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Masawudu, as a threat to the rule of law.
According to him, the media’s mandate is to serve the public interest, thus journalists have the right to perform their duties under the constitution without fear or favour.
Mr Dwumfuor said this at a press conference in Accra on April 23.
“Alhaji Masawudu’s comments are a threat to rule of law and our democracy,” the GJA President declared.
“The public interest is the interest of the media, and the media does not need any invitation to attend to the call of public interest,”Mr Dwumfuor stressed.
He therefore called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately arrest Alhaji Masuwudu for the attack on the property of TV3 and the threat to attack its journalists.
“I wish to call on the IGP to arrest Alhaji Osman Masawudu, who is the 3rd Vice-Chair of the NPP,” he said.
Mr Dwumfuoe further called on Alhaji Masawudu to apologise for his action.
“We call on NPP 3rd Vice National Chairman, Alhaji Masawudu to apologise to Media General and TV3 for his reckless comments,” the GJA President demanded.
He added that “He should not attack the media for discharging its duty and the NPP should not condone his threat.”
He also urged the Management of the Media General to promote unity and tolerance, not conflict.
“The GJA is ready to be part of resolution of impasse between NPP and Media General,” Mr Dwumfuor assured.
Earlier, Media General officially filed a complaint with the Ghana Police Service following threats by Alhaji Osman Masawudu, the Third National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
During a recent NPP press conference, Mr. Masawudu was captured on video deliberately pushing down a TV3 microphone, an act he later acknowledged.
In a subsequent radio interview, he issued direct threats against Media General journalists, warning of physical attacks at future NPP events.
Media General condemned these actions as an attack on press freedom and journalist safety, urging a full police investigation.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to protecting journalists and called on civil society groups and the Ghana Journalists Association to support media freedom.
Read Media General’s full statement below:
