Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has strongly condemned the recent incident involving the manhandling of some journalists by state security personnel. 'Such conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I have instructed that the incident be thoroughly investigated and that the officers involved be sanctioned accordingly,' he said.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama, as a card-bearing member of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), stated that he would not preside over a government that abuses or intimidates journalists in the lawful exercise of their duty. He made these remarks during the swearing-in of four new Deputy Ministers at the Presidency in Accra.
The newly sworn-in Deputy Ministers include Madam Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Adam Sukparu, Deputy Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, and Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister for Health.
The President emphasized that a free and responsible press is essential to democracy and urged that everyone must work to protect the media. He announced plans to convene a meeting between the heads of the security services and the leadership of the GJA to develop a program aimed at orienting security personnel to recognize the media not as adversaries but as partners in development.
