Citi FM's raid: You're the worst GJA president ever, a mere apology can’t save you

The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is pushing for the removal of the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney despite his apology for comments about the arrest of Caleb Citi FM's Caleb Kudah.

Caleb Kudah, a journalist with Citi FM/Citi TV was arrested on Tuesday by National Security operatives for filming at the National Security Ministry.

In a reaction amidst backlash from the public, the GJA president surprisingly stated that Caleb Kudah breached the ethics of the association.

But his comments were roundly condemned by many including some executives of the GJA.

In the release signed by Executive Director Mensah Thompson, ASEPA has reiterated that Mr. Affail Monney must be removed as President of GJA.

“Mr. Monney is going into history books as the worst GJA President and a mere apology cannot save him this time, it is time for him to bow out for the GJA to undertake proper reforms that would promote the interests of Journalists in the Country,” part of the ASEPA release reads.

Another portion reads, “We believe it is this ambition of Mr. Monney and his fear that he could lose the support of Government actors in his next bid as GJA President is what motivated him to attempt to whitewash the brutal assault of the Journalist by putting the blame at the doorstep of the Journalist.”

Read the full press release from ASEPA below:

Mensah Thompson of ASEPA writes...

MERE APOLOGY CANNOT SAVE THE GJA PRESIDENT THIS TIME ROUND-ASEPA

We have received news of an apology rendered by Mr.Affail Monney, President of the GJA this afternoon at Press Conference in Accra with a pinch of salt.

The GJA President’s admission that his comments that the Citi FM Journalist Caleb Kuddah breached the GJA’s code of ethics was based on scanty information available to him about the incident at the time clearly exposes the individualist leadership style of Monney.

As the GJA President, when issues happen, you are expected to wait and get full briefings on the incident consult the other Executive Members of the GJA and the GJA can collectively issue a statement or take a position on the matter.

This clearly shows that what we have served with by Mr.Monney’s over 10 years in office as GJA President is a barrage of personal opinion on issues and not the collective voice of Journalists in the Country which was confirmed by the counter comments by another executive member of the GJA refuting the claims of Mr.Monney.

Mr. Monney is going into history books as the worst GJA President and a mere apology cannot save him this time, it is time for him to bow out for the GJA to undertake proper reforms that would promote the interests of Journalists in the Country.

Mr.Monney’s tenure as GJA President has been characterized with enormous abuse of Journalists than any other GJA President.

And anytime this abuses have happened, the GJA only issues a frivolous statement on the matter then go to sleep.

We have seen the Sampson Adeti example, up till date we don’t know what the GJA has done about the matter, Manasseh Azure example and the Ahmed Suale example.

A journalist was murdered in cold blood in the Country and till date the GJA under President Affail Monney has not been able to ensure justice for the family of the journalist.

Journalists live in continuous fear in the Country and what Mr.Monney is interested in is winning the next elections as GJA President.

We believe it is this ambition of Mr. Monney and his fear that he could loose the support of Government actors in his next bid as GJA President is what motivated him to attempt to whitewash the brutal assault of the Journalist by putting the blame at the door step of the Journalist.

We therefore describe the apology as mere afterthought following the backlash his reckless comments has received and not borne out of any goodwill to promote the interest of journalists in the Country.

We reject his apology outrightly and use this opportunity to intensify our call from his removal from office immediately!

Mensah Thompson

Executive Director,ASEPA

0542120628