GJA President Sandwiched Between Information Minister Designate and Hawa Koomson
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has lifted the media blackout previously imposed on Member of Parliament for Awutu-Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, following deliberations with media stakeholders. However, the blackout on another member of parliament, Farouk Aliu Mahama, remains in force.
The decision to revoke the blackout on Hawa Koomson came after a meeting held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, where the GJA and its media partners reviewed the situation.
The initial blackout was implemented in response to an incident where David Kobenna, a morning show host of Cape FM, was assaulted by individuals allegedly linked to Hawa Koomson during a political event in January.
During the meeting, Hawa Koomson fulfilled her promise to engage with the GJA to address the impasse. Accompanied by Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister-designate for Information, Hawa Koomson met with the National Executive of the GJA at the Ghana International Press Centre. The meeting was attended by representatives from various media associations, including the President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), and the Programme Manager for Freedom of Expression at the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).
Hawa Koomson expressed her commitment to supporting efforts to seek justice for David Kobenna, stating, “I will give you the necessary support.” Fatimatu Abubakar also affirmed Hawa Koomson’s willingness to cooperate with the GJA to resolve the matter, with assurances of support from the Ministry of Information.
In response, GJA President Albert Kwaabena Dwumfour commended Hawa Koomson for her positive step towards resolving the issue and expressed hope that she would honor her commitment.
However, despite the resolution of the Hawa Koomson incident, the media blackout on Farouk, another public figure, remains in effect. The reasons for this continued blackout were not disclosed during the meeting.
The decision to lift the blackout on Hawa Koomson marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address media-related conflicts and ensure accountability among public figures. However, the persistence of the blackout on Farouk suggests that challenges in media-government relations persist and further dialogue may be necessary to resolve them.
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