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Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, has stated emphatically that he will not apologize for expressing his opinion on the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) blacklisting directive against two Members of Parliament.

The two, New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Yendi, Hon. Farouk Mahama and MP for Awutu Senya East constituency, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson stand accused of assaulting journalists in the heat of the NPP’s parliamentary primaries.

Mr. Ayeboafo publicly criticized the GJA’s directive, claiming it is “dysfunctional and unproductive” to the public interest.

He would rather legal avenues are pursued to address such acts of impunity against journalists rather than the directive issued by the leaders of the GJA.

But the NMC boss’ position has raised so many criticisms from some section of the public.

For instance, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mr. Mensah Thompson, expressed disappointment with Mr. Ayeboafo’s comments.

The ASEPA boss portrayed Ayeboafo as a failed journalist who has not recognized the assaults against his former colleagues.

However, in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Ayeboafo asserted that he, like others, is entitled to his views and opinions.

He also stated that he would not hold a grudge against anyone for their opinions on the matter.

"The thing is that boycotting or blackout is something that is not part of normal democratic culture. It is only when everything possible through the rule of law has broken down [that you adopt such measures]. But sometimes it may result in impunity… It is not the most efficacious tool in dealing with attacks on journalists.”

“I will not apologise to anybody for holding that position because that is my view and I will not begrudge anybody from holding a contrary view. My position, and I posited it in my presentation, is that we must not be dismayed because there was something, and we said that there were impediments in our way. We must work together to ensure that those impediments are removed and from henceforth we demand justice,” he added.