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The Brong Ahafo Regional Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is up in arms against the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) over recent unwarranted attacks on its members, believed to have been orchestrated by agents of the RCC. The GJA has in effect issued a stern warning to the officials of the RCC and its agents, including the leadership of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the association will not sit by unconcerned as its members are continuously subjected to attacks and harassment in the discharge of their lawful duties. In a statement jointly signed by the Regional Chairman of the GJA, Ian Motey, and his Secretary, Larry Paa Kwesi Moses, on the attacks some of its members suffered at the hands of NDC thugs in Sunyani last Saturday, the GJA has resolved to boycott the coverage of all activities of the RCC and the NDC in the Region until the culprits of the attack are arrested and the security of its members is guaranteed. �Under the circumstances, the Brong Ahafo Regional GJA has resolved to boycott all official functions of the Regional Coordinating Council, the Municipal and District Assemblies and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) until the culprits are arrested and brought to book�, the statement emphasized. The press statement was to state the association�s official position on the assault meted out to some of its members last Saturday in Sunyani during the BA@50 awards ceremony where former President Jerry John Rawlings was honoured by the organizers of the ceremony. The attack begun when a woman dressed in the NDC colours made derogatory remark about the media, accusing the press of being bias and always writing rubbish in regard to the NDC and the former President. When Dennis Peprah of the GNA attempted to explain the work of the media to her, he was greeted with a slap from the woman, as other party machomen joined in the assault. Members of the press who intervened were also attacked in the process, whilst government officials looked on unconcerned. Ian Motey, Larry Paa Kwesi Moses, Dennis Peprah, Akwasi Ampratwum Mensah, Regional Correspondent of the Daily Graphic and the Regional Correspondent of the Chronicle, Michael Boateng, were among those attacked. The mob snatched mobile phones, wristwatches and reporters� notebooks from the victims during the attack. The GJA has therefore condemned the action under no uncertain terms and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the culprits. �The GJA deems this uncivilized action by the NDC supporters as an affront to press freedom and the rights of the media in the performance of their legitimate duties as mandated by the 1992 Constitution�, the statement indicated. The statement further established that the GJA, through its own investigations, has learnt that the assault was orchestrated by a high-powered official of the NDC. �What made it more serious is that the assault happened in the full glare of the ex-President and founder of the NDC, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, a Member of the Council of State, Mrs. Cecilia Johnson, Ministers of State and Municipal and District Chief Executives�, the statement further noted. According to the GJA, none of these dignitaries restrained their members as they callously beat Dennis Peprah, who was seriously assaulted right before the officials, into pulp. A minister of state on the dais was overhead remarking that �the action was justifiable�. A taxi cab with registration number BA944Q, whose driver wanted to whisk Mr. Peprah away, had its left side screen smashed by the irate mob. What is even more worrisome is that the mob attacked the press corps immediately after the programme which received the overwhelming endorsement of some government appointees. The GJA has also noted that since the beginning of activities marking BA@50, �The media in the region has been slighted by the organizers of the programme, but have endured the ill-treatments�. The association has accused officials at the RCC of muddying the waters by preparing the ground to deny that the incident occurred.