MFWA decries “high-handedness” against Ghana media

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – The Accra-based sub-regional rights body, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has decried the “high-handedness” of Ghana’s security agencies against media workers while calling on authorities “to ensure that journalists pursue their legitimate duties without fear or intimidation”, PANA reported from here Tuesday.

MFWA made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Prof. Kwame Karikari, following the arrest and detention of a radio journalist, Issah Murtala Kpambe.

According to the rights body, Kpambe, a correspondent of state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), was violently assaulted before being arrested and detained on 30 December, 2010, by members of Ghana’s security.

“MFWA once again condemns this high-handedness of the security agencies in the country,” the press freedom body said, adding “Such attacks undermine the rights of journalists and constitute a threat to freedom of expression as guaranteed in the 1992 Constitution of the country.”
-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 4Jan2011