Dakrug Abubakar N’Dia, a journalist with the media company Zaa Multimedia, was assaulted and brutalized on May 16 by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) outside the media company’s headquarters in Tamale, northern Ghana, where the party was holding a series of political events. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), together with its member organization the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), condemns this brutality against a journalist who was simply doing his job.
local Media CoverageJournalist Dakrug Abubakar N’Dia was photographing an altercation between NPP supporters and police officers when he was attacked and assaulted by four “suspected NPP supporters,” resulting in the assault that left the journalist with bruises on his face.
In a statement released by the GJA on May 20, the association’s northern regional chairman, Yakub Abdul Majeed, called on all politicians to join the GJA. “We firmly condemn all forms of attacks against journalists.”and urged “The Northern Regional Police Command will use all lawful means to apprehend the culprits behind the assault and ensure they face the full force of the law.”The Association reiterated its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of journalists and enabling them to carry out their duties without fear of intimidation.
IFJ Secretary-General Anthony Bélanger said the attack on journalist Dakrug Abubakar N’Dia was senseless and should not be tolerated in a democratic society.
“Journalists and media workers are obliged by the rights to freedom of the press and freedom of expression to perform their noble duty in the public interest. No one, including security forces, has the right to attack journalists who are recording videos or taking notes. Press is in the public interest. Journalists must be able to perform their duties without any form of intimidation or harassment.” Belanger said.
The IFJ, together with its affiliate GJA, is calling on the Northern Police Command to do all it can to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The IFJ calls on the government to ensure the safety and security of journalists and provide a favourable environment as Ghana heads towards presidential elections on December 7, 2024.
