Freelance journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni has revealed that in his 10 years journalism career, he has never felt unsafe until the coming of the Akufo-Addo government.
In his speech at the 2020 Baah-Wiredu Memorial Lecture on Thursday, Mr Awuni said although journalists especially, investigative journalists in Ghana face enormous threats, the fear has heightened since President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed office in 2017.
Describing the body language of the Akufo-Addo administration towards media practitioners as ‘vicious and intolerant’, the freelancer said this has partly affected the press’ job to hold the authority accountable.
“I have never felt so unsafe as a journalist [in these past four years] and many of my colleagues share safety concerns because of recent events,” he stressed.
Citing examples, Mr Awuni indicated the killing of investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale who was shot in Madina after a leading member of the NPP administration broadcasted pictures of the undercover journalist.
After the unfortunate incident, he said, no arrest has been made in connection to the murder.
“Acts like these do not only undermine media freedom but they also scar potential investigative journalists and corruption fighters away from joining what is generally becoming a thankless adventure.
“It is unfortunate that all these are happening in the administration of President Akufo-Addo who was marketed to us as a staunch human rights campaigner,” he stressed.
The freelancer then appealed to the Akufo-Addo government to be mindful of how his administration relate with the media should they be re-elected in the 2020 campaign.
Adding that, it will be unacceptable for President Akufo-Addo to be tagged as the man who repealed the Criminal Libel Law, which in fact, is one of the achievements by former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
“Free SHS and the One District One Factory will remain legacies of the Akufo-Addo presidency and not the ministers he appointed to implement his vision. Our elders say that; a man must do his own growing up no matter how tall his father was. I know how tolerant the Kufuor, Atta Mills and John Mahama administrations have been of free speech and Nana Akufo-Addo must carve his own niche,” he said.
