Ghanaian MP Farouk Aliu Mahama has been blacklisted by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for allegedly attacking a journalist.
It’s the strongest statement yet by the association to protect journalists in the country following increasing attacks.
Mahama and his entourage reportedly attacked Mohammed Aminu M Alabira, who works for Accra-based Citi TV, while he was covering a political event involving the MP’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Yaba, northern Ghana.
The MP, the son of the late former Vice-President Aliu Mahama, allegedly slapped and kicked the journalist without provocation, while he was covering chaos that erupted during the party’s primaries.
A police officer and election official were also attacked, but were later rescued by military personnel who were called to the scene.
The GJA and three other associations have urged media organisations to deny the MP access to media platforms.
GJA has also given the ruling NPP and the police a 10-day ultimatum to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. The police say they have commenced investigations into the incident.
Violence against journalists remains pervasive in Ghana and often goes unpunished.
In 2019, Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalist who had collaborated with the BBC, was shot dead near his family home in Accra by unknown gunmen.
