The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has urged the Ghana Police Service to take swift action in arresting and prosecuting individuals who attack media practitioners. GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour made the call during a news conference at the Ghana International Press Centre, emphasizing the need to defend media freedom and address the alarming rate of attacks on journalists.

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"Colleagues, talking about World Press Freedom Day, one thing that readily comes to mind is attacks against journalists and other media practitioners," Dwumfour said, adding that "we urge the Ghana Police Service to act swiftly in arresting perpetrators of such crime and prosecute them accordingly.

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He noted that these attacks have been a major drawback to Ghana's World Press Freedom Index in recent years, but the GJA is poised to reset this narrative.Dwumfour cited the recent brutal attack on Ohemeng Tawiah of the Multimedia Group Limited by illegal small-scale miners as a disturbing example.

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He also highlighted the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, emphasizing that six years after the incident, no arrests have been made, and police investigations have been lackadaisical.The GJA President expressed disappointment that the Attorney-General's office had not received a docket fit for prosecution or action on Suale's murder, even five years after the incident.

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He also referenced a recent disclosure by Member of Parliament Kwame Asare-Obeng, who claimed to have provided information to the Police CID regarding Suale's suspected killers.The GJA has called on all stakeholders, including the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, and civil society organizations, to help address the issue of attacks on media practitioners.

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