Journalist assault: Mahama shouldn’t be blamed – Kwakye Ofosu

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson for President John Dramani Mahama and Minister of State for Government Communications, has dismissed claims that the government is responsible for recent assaults on journalists.

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Kwabena Dwumfour on Tuesday, February 18 strongly condemned the Mahama administration over the rising number of assaults on journalists.
Dwumfour revealed that since the start of President Mahama’s administration, seven cases of journalist attacks have been recorded, describing the situation as “unprecedented.”

Expressing deep concern over the lack of accountability for perpetrators, he criticised the government’s failure to take decisive action against those responsible.

But speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday February 19, Kwakye Ofosu described the narrative as “most regrettable” and unfair to President Mahama, the government, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and the journalists reported to have been attacked.
“It was claimed that seven journalists had been attacked and statements were made that sought to create the impression that there is some design by Mahama and his government to attack journalists. It is a most regrettable narrative. We do not think that it is fair to President Mahama, it is fair to the government, it is even fair to the GJA or even to the journalists who are reported to have been attacked,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.

The Minister revealed that he had engaged the President of the GJA to discuss the issues and find out what informed the press conference. They agreed to have a direct interaction between his office and the GJA early next week to address any concerns that journalists may have.

“I sought to find out exactly what informed that press conference and why other alternative approaches were not adopted to discuss the matters with the view to seeking redress for those who might have been affected. After the conversation, we agreed that early next week there should be a direct interaction between my office and the GJA,” he explained.

Kwakye Ofosu expressed dismay at the way the narrative was presented, creating a misleading impression about the government and President Mahama.

He emphasised President Mahama’s affable nature and good standing with the GJA, asserting that the President would never supervise a dispensation where journalists are attacked.

“All of you are aware that President Mahama is an easy-going, down-to-earth, affable individual who relates well with all manner of people. He is a member of the GJA in good standing. Essentially, he is one of you and therefore he will be the last person to supervise a dispensation where journalists are attacked,” he stressed.

Kwakye Ofosu also refuted the notion that the government was unhappy with certain journalists and was carrying out reprisals against them.

“The way that the press conference was addressed and the way that the matters were couched created the impression that some journalists had perhaps said or written something that the government was unhappy about and therefore the government was carrying out reprisals against them.

“But that is completely incorrect. It is not true and nothing of the sort has happened,” he affirmed.