Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Kofi Asamoah has called for end to the practice where journalists are assaulted while performing their task.
According to him, media practitioners are supposed to be among the most respected professionals in the world because of the crucial role they play.
Speaking Monday night on Burning Issues aired on Adom FM and Asempa FM, Mr. Asamoah said it is criminal, contemptible and completely intolerable to attack a man or woman of the media in his or her line of duty.
Three journalists from Multi TV- Felix Akunor, Joojo Cobbina and Festus Solomon- were on Saturday arrested on the orders of the Accra Mayor, Alfred Vanderpuije while they had gone to Mensah Guinea in Accra, to report on their plight. The three have been charged with offensive conduct.
Ashanti Regional Correspondent of the Daily Graphic, Daniel Kenu was on Friday assaulted allegedly by Baffuor Gyan, elder brother of Black Stars Captain Asamoah Gyan and their manager, Samuel Anim Addo at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
I agree that from time to time, media houses and their staff err in the performance of their duties, but physically assaulting them is not the way to go, the TUC Secretary General told Afia Pokua, hostess of the talk show.
Mr. Asamoah added: There are various avenues through which anyone who feels hurt by a media report can seek redress.
He also advised media practitioners to act professionally to earn the respect they desire from the public.
If you want to be respected you should first respect yourself and in so doing you gain societal respect at large.
Mr. Asamoah also charged the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to organize periodic workshops for journalists to empower them in their field of reportage.
He said the GJA must be transformed into a workers union to fight for the welfare of journalists and ensure they enjoy better working conditions.
The profession is so much important to this country; it is important to the development of the country and must not be looked down upon with disrespect, he stressed.
Source: myjoyonline
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