Gov't condemns military brutality on journalists

Government has condemned the assault on two photo journalists by persons said to be military personnel during Wednesday's 56th Independence Anniversary celebration.

Information Minister, Mahama Ayariga told Joy News no journalist should be assaulted by security personnel in the pursuit of his or her job.

Two accredited photojournalists with the state-owned newspapers Graphic and Ghanaian Times were brutally assaulted by military personnel when they attempted to take shots of the presidents during the parade at the Independence Square.

One the journalists was said to have been slapped by one of the military personnel with the other journalist being shocked with a taser at his private parts.

The incident has provoked lots of anger among journalists with some threatening to boycott events the military is involved in.

But Mahama Ayariga said the action by the military cannot be countenanced.

He said he has made personal efforts to get the Minister of Defence to institute an investigation into the matter, adding the perpetrators will be punished if they are found culpable.

He has meanwhile, spoken to one of the journalists to ascertain his state of health and to apologise for the incident.

Director of Communication for the Military Col Mbawine Atintande told Joy News investigations have begun.

He said if the perpetrators are found culpable they will be dealt with.

He however called for better collaboration between the media and the military to ensure that incidents like this do not recur.