The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has strongly criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for what he described as the harassment and persecution of journalists.
According to Mr. Dwumfour, the actions by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, represent an overreach of authority and a worrying deviation from his constitutional mandate.
“The Special Prosecutor must focus on his core mandate as Special Prosecutor and not deviate from it to become a special persecutor. He is a Special Prosecutor, not a special persecutor,” he stated during a press briefing on Wednesday, April 23.
The GJA President’s comments follow the detention and charging of journalist Gordon Asare Bediako by operatives of the OSP over a publication in which the journalist alleged that the Special Prosecutor had requested the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government to procure a private jet for official use.
He stated that the OSP charged Mr Asare with publishing false information and subsequently bailed him to the tune of GH₵5 million.
Mr. Dwumfour revealed that the GJA has instructed its legal team to immediately seek judicial review of what it deems an unlawful and unconstitutional action by the OSP.
“We firmly hold the view that such an overarch of authority by the OSP is not only unacceptable but also illegal. Accordingly, we will seek a declaration from a court of competent jurisdiction to nullify this action,” he said.
He said the Association also plans to file an injunction to restrain the OSP from any further acts of harassment against Mr Bediako or any other journalist.
Reaffirming the GJA’s commitment to press freedom and the rule of law, Mr. Dwumfour stressed that journalists must be protected, not persecuted for their work.
“We remain committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served within the boundaries of legal authorities,” he added.
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