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

Consequently, the United Press for Development Network (UPDN) has threatened the police administration to bring their men to book or face their wrath.

The outburst comes after three journalists from the Ghanaian Times newspaper who were on their way for the day’s assignment were Thursday morning assaulted by ten police officers at Kinbu in Accra Central.

The assault followed a traffic offence and an accident involving a police officer who was using an unregistered motorcycle and the official Ghanaian Times vehicle, which was transporting the journalists to their various assignment venues.

The 10 police officers who were not happy that the journalists had tried to record the accident and the ensuing exchanges between their driver and the police motor rider, pounced on the journalists and physically assaulted them.

But the media advocacy group in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Principal Servant, Kofi Asante Mensah read: "We are highly incensed with this notoriousness, barbarism, dastardly and lawless act by supposes law enforcers in this Republic and we hold the view that it is time to face this growing menace squally."

Below is the full statement:

Friday March 15, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

Ghanaian Times Reporters Assault: Bring your Men To Book in 48hrs or face our wrath !!!!!

United Press for Development Network (UPDN) associates itself with the press release issued by the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) dated 14th March, 2019, signed by Affail Monney President GJA, captioned “Assault On Ghanaian Times Reporters By Police Is Barbaric”.

As a fearless and responsible Press Freedom fighters and media advocacy youth group, we are by this press release stating unequivocally that the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Arm Force officials among others who violated and shamefully lowered the integrity of the service/force by brutalizing three Ghanaian Times reporters on Thursday March 14, 2019 must be brought to book in 48hours or face our wrath.

We are highly incensed with this notoriousness, barbarism, dastardly and lawless act by supposes law enforcers in this Republic and we hold the view that it is time to face this growing menace squally.

No stone will be left unturned if you fail to discipline culprits of this demonic, unethical, unprofessional trend in policing the Republic of Ghana. We will NOT ACCEPT any form of apology, compensation etc. but justice in this regard within the said stipulated period.

Long live Press Freedom
Long live Ghanaian Media
Long live United Press for Development Network

Yours sincerely,

………Signed…………
Kofi Asante Mensah
Principal Servant, UPDN
0244690262

NATIONAL COMMUNICATION BUREAU

Albert David Quainoo
South Korea Rep
+821021174780

Kelvin T. Malor
(National Organizer)
0245995541

Abena Amponsah Britwum
(Head, UPDN Women in Media)
0242551339

Frank Darlington
(International Relations Manager)
0245414948

Lily Ampofoa Prekoh
(Head, UPDN Women in Media)
0541444671

Julius A. Tettey
(Deputy Principal Servant)
0263222038

Fred Smith
(Executive Member)
0246799692

UNITED PRESS FOR DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
MADINA, ACCRA, GHANA
TEL: 0244690262
www.updghana.com
[email protected]
[email protected]

Source: Ghanaguardian.com