We need a state Institution that will protect and safeguard the peace and rights of Journalists – GJA

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned in no uncertain terms the Rambo-Style arrest of Onua TV’s lead presenter, Godsbrain Smart aka Captain Smart by Operatives of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

It would be recalled that on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, NIB operatives stopped Captain Smart on his way home from work and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

The GJA says it believes that since Captain Smart is not a fugitive, the NIB operatives could have used civil means to invite him for questioning.

In a statement signed by its president, Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, the GJA acknowledged the mandate of the NIB as enshrined in the 1992 constitution but says it is appalled by the Rambo style deployed by the NIB to arrest Captain Smart, assuming without admitting that Captain Smart erred on the side of the law.

“Repugnant actions such as the one exhibited by the NIB must stop as it exposes Ghana to international ridicule,” the statement noted.

It said the arrest of Captain Smart sends worrying signals, especially, to international media watchers who still regard Ghana as a reference point of press freedom and democracy in Africa and this will continue to affect Ghana’s world Press Freedom ranking, a ranking which Ghana dipped massively and must, at this time be seen to be working hard to restore its place on the ranking.

“We must not, and dare not slide further but rise higher on the league table of free media systems on the continent and the world as a whole.”

“We also call on our local and international media partners, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), and Rapporteur San Frontier (Reporters Without Borders), as well as the diplomatic community in Ghana, to condemn the arrests and actions taken by state institutions to intimidate or gag journalists in the country.

“We need as a country, particularly state institutions to work to protect and safeguard the peace and the rights of Journalists in this country.

“The GJA, however, would want to advise all Journalists to be guided by the code of conduct and ethics of the practice and carry out their constitutional mandate as agents of development without fear or favour.

“We equally admonish Captain Smart to eschew comments that disturb the peace of the country but be encouraged to discharge his duties professionally.”