The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Central Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), demanding that it publicly acknowledge wrongdoing, apologise to Obaatanpa Radio, compensate the station for losses suffered and withdraw a court action initiated against the media organisation.

The GJA said failure to comply with the demands would compel it to announce further measures in defence of press freedom and the protection of journalists.

Addressing a press conference at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on Thursday, July 9, the President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, described an alleged attack on Obaatanpa Radio by the NDC regional executives as a serious assault on media freedom that must not be tolerated in a democratic society.

The GJA's position follows reports that some executives of the NDC in the Central Region allegedly stormed the premises of Obaatanpa Radio and forced the station off air. The party's Central Regional Chairman, Richard Asiedu, has been widely linked to the incident.

Mr Dwumfuor stressed that while the GJA does not condone unethical, biased or unprofessional journalism, political actors and other aggrieved persons must seek redress through lawful and established mechanisms rather than resort to intimidation, violence or the closure of media houses.

He said disagreements over media content should be addressed through dialogue, complaints to the appropriate regulatory institutions or the courts, and not through actions capable of undermining constitutional guarantees of free expression and media independence.

The GJA President therefore called on the national leadership of the NDC to intervene decisively to resolve the matter and ensure that those responsible for the incident are held accountable.

He also appealed to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations into the alleged attack and ensure that justice is served.

According to him, bringing the matter to a swift conclusion would send a strong signal that attacks against journalists and media organisations will not be tolerated under Ghana's democratic dispensation.

Flood disaster

Touching on the recent floods that affected parts of the country, Mr Dwumfuor urged state institutions to strictly enforce sanitation and environmental laws to prevent a recurrence of such disasters.

He encouraged journalists across the country to actively monitor and report on the national clean-up exercise initiated by President John Dramani Mahama, saying sustained media coverage would help promote accountability and ensure that public officials discharged their responsibilities effectively.

The GJA President also expressed concern about deteriorating sanitation conditions in many communities, saying the situation suggested that some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) had not been sufficiently proactive in executing their environmental sanitation mandates.

He indicated that the Association would closely monitor the performance of the assemblies and continue to highlight issues relating to sanitation, environmental management and disaster prevention in the public interest.

Mr Dwumfuor reiterated that safeguarding press freedom and ensuring accountability remain central to the GJA's mandate, adding that the Association would continue to speak out against all forms of intimidation directed at journalists and media institutions.