Framework to stamp out 'needless' media, police friction in the offing

The police administration says it is engaging some known institutions working in the media arena to improve the sort of sour relationship existing between the media and police.

The Ghana Police Service has admitted it has taken notice of the “needless friction” between police officers and journalists in the wake of recent attacks on the latter by the former.

A statement signed by Director-General/Public Affairs, Assistant Commissioner of Police David Eklu, announced, “The Police is collaborating with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), National Media Commission (NMC) and other media partners to develop pragmatic framework to ensure the safety and improve working relations between the Police and the media.”

His statement comes on the back of an attack on three journalists with state-owned Ghanaian Times by about 10 policemen and a military man on Thursday March 14.

Two of them – Malik Sulemana and Raissa Sambou – allegedly, were physically brutalised for engaging an officer who had jumped traffic and broken the bumper, mirror and windscreen of the Nissan saloon car they were travelling on. Another, a Senior Assistant Editor, Salifu Abdul Rahman, was also heckled by the men in uniform with threats to confiscate his bag and phone.

The police statement issued on Friday said the police administration has instituted investigation into the case of assault and motor traffic accident.

“Preliminary information gathered does not suggest the journalists were targeted because of their profession but it was a traffic offence which resulted in a scuffle between the journalists and the police officers,” the statement explained.

The police officer involved in the alleged traffic office has been identified and statement taken from him at the Ministries Police Station, the police said.

ACP Eklu’s statement assured that update on progress of investigations will be communicated.