The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has sympathized with JoyNews reporter, Latif Iddrisu after he was attacked by uniformed policemen. 

Speaking on the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, Latif told Roland Walker on the AM Show that Dr Bawumia who doubles as Chairman of the Police Council, called personally to find out how he was faring after the attack.

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia

“He called me personally to check on me and find out how I was doing,” he said.

Latif, however, expressed his disappointment at the conduct of the Police Council, spotlighting their inaction since the news of the brutality broke.

“But…we have not seen that setup or unit within the police service taking the matter up as one will expect them to do”.

The Joy News reporter was brutalized by policemen at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters on March 27, 2018, where he had gone to report on some demonstration embarked on by supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had stormed the place following the arrest of their Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho.

Latif is currently dealing with a fractured skull while his attackers walk free. The police say they are investigating the matter.

Free media

Meanwhile, Deputy Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has said Ghana needs to paint a good picture of media practice to the world.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is Deputy Information Minister

The Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi says despite some challenges journalists face in the line of duty, media freedom is guaranteed.

“I think the big picture we need to paint to the world is that media practice in Ghana is by and large free and without hindrance,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah said on Thursday on the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day.

He was also speaking on the AM Show Thursday. 

The Deputy Minister, however, acknowledged and condemned the brutalities meted out to journalists in the line of duty, stating that the perpetrators must be punished.

“…however, there have been some isolated incidents that ought not to happen…therefore if it has happened perpetrators must be brought to book as quickly as possible,” he stated.