Caleb Kudah hasn't breached any Code of Ethics, maybe the ethics of Affail Monney's Ghana Jokers Association – Manasseh

Award-winning investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni has taken a swipe at the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Affail Monney for accusing Citi FM’s Caleb Kudah of breaching the association’s code of ethics.

Caleb Kudah, on Tuesday was arrested by the National Security operatives for filming at the National Security Ministry, a security zone.

While the display of bravado from the National Security has been criticized by Civil Society Organisations, GJA President Mr. Affail Monney said Caleb Kudah broke the GJA Code of Ethics because his motive for filming vehicles bought with taxpayers money which were left to rot was not clear.

Reacting to the claim, Manasseh Azure says the GJA president might be talking about a different code of ethics that is unknown to journalists in the country.

He said Caleb Kudah did no wrong in filming MASLOC vehicles that were left to rot.

“After the National Security arrested and beat up Caleb Kudah of Citi FM for going to film vehicles that had been procured with the tax payers' money and left to rust, the GJA President says he broke the GJA Code of Ethics because his motive was not clear.

“Of course, Affail Monney could not be referring to the Code of Ethics of the Ghana Journalists Association. Maybe, that code of ethics belongs to the Ghana Jokers Association,” Manasseh Azure said in a write-up on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the investigative journalist has revealed that he stopped being a member of the GJA when he was convinced its leadership was working against the interest of journalists.

Read the full write-up from Manasseh Azure Awuni below:

2015: Samuel Nuamah of Ghanaian times dies in presidential press corps accident. The vehicle and its driver, according to the journalists on board the vehicle, had issues and they had complained about before the accident. The presidency gave a different account.

THE GJA President said he believed the account of the presidency over the journalists. I asked him whether he was doubting the account of the reporter from his own newsroom, Napoleon Ato Kittoe, who was on board the vehicle. He said Napoleon Ato Kittoe was sleeping so he didn't really see what happened.

2017: The GJA issued a press statement against the Robbing the Assemblies documentary I did on the Jospong Group. Without stating any journalistic ethic, I broke, the GJA said I was destroying a local company. That investigation led to the cancellation of a $74 million contract.

2021: After the National Security arrested and beat up Caleb Kudah of Citi FM for going to film vehicles that had been procured with the tax payers' money and left to rust, the GJA President says he broke the GJA Code of Ethics because his motive was not clear.

Of course, Affail Monney could not be referring to the Code of Ethics of the Ghana Journalists Association. Maybe, that code of ethics belongs to the Ghana Jokers Association.

The GJA under Gifty Afanyi-Dadzie or Ransford Tetteh was not like this.

Fortunately, the GJA is not like the Ghana Bar Association. Being a member is not compulsory. I stopped being a member of the association when I was convinced its leadership was working against the interest of journalists and the journalists generally do not care about who leads them. If you demand accountability you're tagged as arrogant or accused of hating.

The tenure of current GJA executive expired in 2020. For whatever reasons, they are holding on to power. This has resulted in a court action. Until seriousness returns to the association one day, it is better to stay aloof and practice without the expectation of a professional representing now.

Manasseh Azure Awuni