The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has declared a total media blackout on Mavis Hawa Koomson, Member of Parliament for Awutu-Senya East and Minister for Fisheries.
The declaration follows the failure of the Ghana Police Service and leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to decisively deal with the acolytes of the MP who assaulted a journalist during the Central Regional vetting of parliamentary aspirants.
President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday where he also demanded justice for David Kobenna, victim of the assault.
He expressed grave concerns over the lack of progress in the investigation and the consequent denial of justice for David Kobenna.
“Three weeks after the assault, no arrests have been made, and justice has been denied David while the thugs continue to walk freely,” Dwumfour stated.
The GJA President detailed the brutal assault on Kobenna, which occurred on January 4, 2024.
Kobenna was mistaken for someone else and was attacked by a group of approximately 15 individuals associated with Hawa Koomson.
Despite providing his media identification, the attackers, allegedly spurred on by a person believed to be a police officer, continued their assault.
The GJA President recounted their earlier demands to the NPP and the Ghana Police Service, which included investigating and sanctioning the perpetrators and the police officer.
With the lack of response to these demands, Dwumfour announced a decisive measure: “All media houses must give a total media blackout to Mavis Hawa Koomson…We are scared of the people around her who pose a serious threat to the lives of journalists and other media practitioners.”
The Association’s stance, he said, is a response not only to this specific incident but also to a broader concern about increasing attacks against journalists in Ghana.
“Following intel we had picked last year regarding plots by some political actors to attack journalists this year as a strategy to put fear in media practitioners during the electioneering, we are taking this stand,” added Dwumfour.
The GJA called for immediate action from the NPP leadership and the Ghana Police Service to apprehend and prosecute the assailants and the police officer involved.
The Association stressed the media blackout on Hawa Koomson is effective immediately and will continue until its sees tangible action taken against those responsible for the assault.
The association urged all media houses to support the blackout, emphasizing the potential danger to journalists from individuals associated with the MP.
“Whether you are in the studio, home, church, mosque, or public gathering, they can come for your life. That is because they are unreasonable. Just stay away from her and be safe,” Dwumfour warned.
