C/R GJA urges police to communicate freely with journalists

The Central Regional Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association has expressed their displeasure about the refusal of the regional police command to release information to the media, and instead refer them to the police headquarters in Accra.

It has, therefore, asked that, the regional, divisional and district police commanders to interact and communicate freely with the media.

A statement signed and issued on behalf of the association by the Central Regional Secretary of the GJA, Kingsley Nana Buadu, indicated that the recent behaviour and conduct of the police had proven to be inimical to free flow of information.

“This new development has kept the media and the general public in the dark regarding crimes and other happenings in the regions and what the police are doing to protect the citizenry,” it stated.

It said media personnel in the regions had been struggling to access information from the police whenever there is the need to do so.

The statement said: “The media thrive on credible information and any attempt by public institutions and individuals to prevent the timely verification of information needs to be checked.”

“An attempt to prevent the media from confirming or seeking details regarding a story creates room for speculation and misinformation which would rather create fear in the society,” it indicated.

It said: “on Monday, September 20, 2022, the police upon investigations, exhumed the body of one Georgina AsorBotchwey, who went missing for about two weeks at Mankesim in the Central region.”  

The Media in the Central Region, according to the association, had not been able to authenticate the facts of the story and some clarification needed from the Police.

“This, the association believes would not only serve the interest of the police but would continue to foster stronger relationship between the police and the media,” it said.

It explained that, there had been long standing mutual relationship between the two institutions.

FROM DAVID YARBOI-TETTEH, CAPE COAST