Journalists threaten 'kum y3n pr3ko' demo over assaults

Journalists across the country are peeved over the seeming ‘indifference’ and lackadaisical posture of the police and government to issues that have to do with the brutalization of media practitioners in their line of duty.

Consequently, a group calling itself the United Press for Development Network (UPDN) has announced its decision to embark on a ‘Kum Y3n Pr3ko’ to wit: ‘Kill Us At Once’ demonstration, to relay their grievances.

The group says it would partner other media and civil organizations to organize the biggest media protest against what it described as the heightening of unprovoked, unending and lawless attacks on journalists.

This outburst comes after two journalists are alleged to have been attacked at the Keta Municipal Coordinating Council in the Volta Region, on Saturday.

They failed us

The UPDN say they expect more from government and from the organizations that manage the affairs of journalists in the country.

“We have written petitions to several government agencies including the Office of the President…Even though some have responded to the petition, we are yet to identify commitment in finding lasting solutions to this disgraceful menace,” a Senior Communications Officer of the group, Mr. Frank Heymann, told The Publisher.

He continued: “We are however taken aback at how the Dr. Affail Monney led Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has unfortunately found luxury in this rather uncomfortable state of affairs. Affail is wining and dining while we are dying and this is really unacceptable,” he lamented.

He therefore called on the GJA and all concerned bodies to be more pragmatic in their approach to resolving this challenge.

“We are appealing to the decision makers from the Presidency to the police to protect the right of journalists to make sure we are respected and that anybody who will assault and manhandle any media man is taken on immediately,” Mr. Heymann said.

The group said it would stop at nothing till the rights of journalists are protected.



“Finally, nothing will stop us from demanding for the end of this heinous, barbaric and senseless show of bravado with gross disrespect to human rights and rule of law under a constitutional led government,” the UPND said.

Details of the demonstration, according to UPDN, would be made available to the public before the end of the week.