Journalists fight for doctors, judges, students, nurses, in fact everybody but themselves. Most of them have no conditions of service yet they are loud in pushing for better conditions of service for others.

In two months, the profession has come under attack from one man, Stan Dogbe, who is himself a journalist but now finds himself on the other side speaking for the president.

Dogbe assaulted a journalist with the state broadcaster whom he accused of secretly recording a conversation in a public place. He seized his recorder, smashed  it and walked out of the 37 Military Hospital where journalists had converged to mourn the death of one of their own Samuel Nuamah, a member of the presidential press corps who died through an accident.

The dust on that incident has hardly settled but Dogbe is in the news again this time launching a scathing attack on Ghanaian journalists accusing them of being irresponsible for reporting an accident involving journalists who had gone to report the president's commissioning of a new Community SHS in the Western Region. His argument was that all the journalists got it wrong because the presidential press corps was not involved in an accident. But the fact was that journalists, who the governing party provided vehicle for to cover the president's assignment was involved in the accident with some of them sustaining varying degrees of injuries.

In the heat of these attacks on journalists members of the profession have been shockingly quiet; those who have been vocal, including the head of the GJA profession, have turned against their own and are supporting powers that be. The Media Foundation for West Africa now appears to be fighting the battle for the GJA and seeking, at the very least, sanctions to Stan Dogbe.

On  Joy FM's Ghana Connect programme Friday, Editor of Myjoyonline.com Malik Abass Daabu, Edwin Appiah of Myjoyonline.com, Peter Addison of the School of Communication Studies at the University of Ghana  and Jennifer Kuakyewaa Akuamoah also of the School of Communication Studies and Sulemana Braimah of the Media Foundation for West Africa had their take on the sullen timidity that appears to be hanging so loosely around the journalism profession.

Edwin Appiah unleashed a gun scatter attack on journalists particularly the GJA for failing to protect their own. The GJA, he said, had lost its relevance, hoping, in the future that no person from the State broadcaster would be made to lead such a noble profession.

He was scandalised that nobody from the State broadcaster had the courage to sign a petition to the president demanding that Stan Dogbe be sanctioned.

Malik Abass Daabu in a rather sarcastic fashion said it was easy to complete a diploma or degree in GIJ than to go through the formalities to become a GJA member.

The profession has lost steam, does not command the authority and respect it used to several years ago.

He was unequivocal that if journalists, despite having all the opportunities to speak decide to remain quiet in the face of assault.

He condemned in no uncertain terms the assault on journalist by the Stan Dogbe, saying even if the journalist was wrong, Dogbe had no right to assault him.

Mr Peter Addison blamed the situation on structural defects within the journalism profession.

He said until the conditions of service of journalists are improved and paid well they will continue to be subservient to either politicians or the people they cover.

Jennifer Akuamoah who lived in South Africa, for some time, brought an interesting dimension to the discussion by comparing the journalism profession in the two countries.

She said the Apartheid system and the late Nelson Mandela's vehement support of journalists had only strengthened the resolve of journalists in that country. She said journalists there are bold to play their role as the fourth estate of the realm without any intimidation. She hoped Ghanaian journalists will do same.

On his part Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa bemoaned the level of timidity amongst some journalists.

He said journalists must be bold to take on powers that be. That is the only way for them to play their roles as expected.