Last week Wednesday was, indeed, a sad day for media practice in our great nation. A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters, wielding cutlasses and machetes, and other dangerous weapons, in a manifestation of Nana Akufo-Addo’s “all-die-be-die” agenda for 2012 general election, besieged the premises of Asempa FM, threatening to beat up an NDC panel member who they accuse of raining insults on their flagbearer. The NPP militants accused a member of the ruling NDC, Peter Boamah Otukonor, of leading the assault on their flagbearer on Ekosii Sen, a political programme on Asempa FM, located on the premises of Joy FM, and decided to vent their spleen on the station. But for the timely intervention of the police, lives would have been lost.
These cannot be normal times for media practice in Ghana because for such uncivilized attack to be directed at a media house and for the umbrella media body such as the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to remain mute on the issue, is worrying. It was irresponsible and dangerous attack on press freedom in our dear nation to the amazement of all concerned lovers of media freedom, except the Ghana Journalists Association and the National Media Commission (NMC).
Indeed, this primitive act simply calls for condemnation of the NPP and their militants by all and sundry. But, as always, the silence of these so-called media watchers is quite resounding. And, of course, the useless and spineless GJA and that empty group called the NMC, do not see this as an affront to free speech.
It is almost a week now since the NPP militants attacked Asempa FM, and yet, there is no word on this shameless and uncivilized act by the so-called proponents of free speech-The Ghana Journalists Association, the National Media Commission, the Media Foundation for West Africa and other civil society groups.
Are we really safe in this country with such tainted political organizations hiding under the guise of civil society advocates?
I am deeply worried over these apologists of institutions claiming to be fighting for the interest of media practitioners, yet have continued to maintain a resounding silence over an attack on a media house.
I call call on lovers of free press and decency in our great nation, regardless of political party affiliation, to say enough is enough, with NPP's indiscipline, belligerence and provocations.
Let it be clearly known to the NPP militants that they will fall on their own sword and dagger! They will eat their own flesh and drink their own blood.
Enough said.
Emmanuel Dela Coffie
www.delacoffie.wordpress.com