Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) says Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) President, Roland Affail Monney must resign for his inability to protect the interest of Journalists in the country.
According to him, the GJA President has shown a lack of leadership in several assault cases on Journalists in the country.
“He (Affail Monney) told Ghanaians that the Journalist (Caleb Kudah) assaulted acted in contravention to the code of ethics of the GJA. This shows to a very large extent how problematic Affail Monney’s style of leadership has been for the past decade,” the Executive Director for ASEPA, Mensah Thompson stated on Kasapa 102.5 FM.
Mr. Thompson further said that the code of ethics of the GJA does not supersede the constitution of Ghana insisting nothing warrants the Journalist being beaten in such a manner by the Security Officers.
Mr Monney had said the journalist breached the code of ethics of the profession when he entered the premises of the state security agency and filmed abandoned state-purchased vehicles.
The comment has attracted condemnation from some journalists and civil society groups in the country who are calling for his head.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Friday, the President of the Ghana Journalist Association Affail Monney expressed regret over his initial comments on the arrest of Citi FM’s Caleb Kudah.
“As I indicated, the information I had before the interview was scanty. What is available now is sufficient, as legal luminaries, distinguished ethicists and social critics slice and dice the issue from all angles. It is healthy for a free society such as ours for viewpoint diversity to be manifestly venerated, not maliciously castigated.
“I, therefore, render my sincerest apology for any misimpression created that I was insensitive to the plight of the journalists but excited about the excesses by the National Security operatives. Indeed, those excesses pass for wickedness at its most naked nastiness. And I totally denounce them.”
But the Executive Director for ASEPA maintained that in terms of protecting the interest of Journalists in their line of duty he (Affail Monney) has really failed and must go.
“I think that it’s about time he puts his job down for a different person to take over from him, the ASEPA Boss said.
