Journalists not angry enough about attacks on them – Amaliba

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team, Abraham Amaliba says journalists should rise up and fight against assaults they face in the line of duty.

There have been many cases of assault on journalists with the recent one being that of Starr Fm’s Upper East Correspondent Edward Adeti whose house was ransacked after his investigation led to the resignation of a minister of state, Rockson Ayine Bukari.

Mr. Amaliba speaking on TV3 New Day said journalists should show more seriousness in fighting for their rights in order to stop these attacks.

“You media men have not bared your teeth at what is happening currently in this country. As a group, you have what it takes to stop some of these unwarranted attacks on you,” he noted.

According to him, the brutal killing of investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein—Suale by gunmen as a result of the “reckless exposure” of his pictures by a Member of Parliament has discredited Ghana’s credentials on the safety of journalists.

“The world index on press freedom shows that from number one in Africa, we came down to number three because of the killing of Ahmed Suale, whose killing was as a result of the reckless exposure of his pictures on the network that belonged to a Member of Parliament”.

Mr. Amaliba said journalists should show their anger on the recent attacks inflicted on them.

“A journalist who recently exposed a special assistant at the presidency, Rockson Bukari had to run away from Bolga to Accra for safety. I am asking a question, where are you the journalists who were angry at Stan Dogbe when he punched the cameraman of a journalist at the flagstaff house? Where is that same vim and steam and anger? he questioned.

Having acknowledged the role of journalists to national development, he charged them to come together to fight individuals who are against their practice.

“Your work is very critical to the development of this country. Your work which also includes exposing corrupt practices will not sit well with some people who are corrupt-minded, and so for you to continue to be in existence, you must come together as a group and fight these people who either are in government, are businessmen or are powerful in the society”, he noted.

He urged journalists to make the citizens understand their importance in national development.