
Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo has lambasted President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour for what he describes as a show of arrogance.
The heads of NMC and GJA have been on a collision course since last week when they clashed at an event put together to build the capacity of journalists in the country.
Addressing the training programme, Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo criticised the decision by GJA to direct media houses to boycott Member of Parliament for Yendi, Farouk Aliu Mahama and Awutu Senya East MP Hawa Koomson for alleged attacks on journalists.
Despite being backlashed for opposing the boycott, the NMC Chairman says he stands by it.
He said the behaviour of the GJA boss amounts to sycophancy and must not be entertained in the country.
Speaking to Citi News on Monday, February 12, Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo warned Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour that he won’t allow him to suppress him from sharing his views on matters that relate to him as a member of the GJA.
“Why I said he is arrogant is that when they invited me I sent my copy to them before I went to the lecture. I sat down with him before I delivered my paper and after I delivered my paper. Why didn’t he tell me some of the things? What worries me is his comment that because I’ve been given a position in the government I have turned my back against the GJA. That offends me and I’m scandalized by it,” Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo.
The NMC boss in the interview urged the GJA president to resign if he cannot tolerate the opposing views of members.
“The other thing Dwumfour needs to understand is that I’m a no afire member of GJA. If at any point in time, the GJA takes a decision that is offensive to me I’m entitled to express that view and if he’s unable to tolerate that then he should leave the offence because he is there to serve the interest of members and he cannot suppress any member from expressing their views on decisions taken by the GJA Executives,” Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo said.
Speaking on the same platform, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour stressed that the GJA will continue to blacklist persons who attack journalists in the country.
He said as a former journalist, Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo should rather join the GJA to push for the safety of journalists.
“An attack on a journalist is an attack on Ghana’s democracy. We are the fourth arm of the state and so if we come under attack and the environment is contaminated you can’t tell us to put our lives on the line. We stand by our position because a boycott is a democratic tool to protest the way we are being treated.
“We will continue to blacklist and blacklist. Mr. Ayeboafo should rather join us because he is one of us,” the GJA President said.
Comments
Mr Dwumfor, I think what Mr Yaw Boadu is saying makes sense. You are not supposed to crucify someone without fair hearing. You should always set a bye -patisan or adhoc committee to meet the victim and the accused to understand well how things went on. You will act on the committees recommendations. Taking the law into your hands to blacklist people based on social media sensations will not help anybody. Mr Yaw Boadu is in fact a seasoned competent, credible and neutral media practition...