The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in condemning a deliberate act of intimidation and harassment.
According to a press statement issued by the GJA on Thursday, 8 October, David Tamakloe was arrested in relation to a story he published on Whatsup News in July which reported “alleged ethnic profiling of Ewes and Northerners in New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region. The GJA Statement reminded that the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom of expression and creates avenues for persons who feel aggrieved by any media content to complain to the National Media Commission (NMC).
“To the extent that Tamakloe arrest relates to his journalistic work, the police action is unconstitutional and undermines the value of democracy”, the GJA said
The General Secretary of the IFJ, Anthony Bellanger, said that the arrest of David Tamakloe is an act of harassment and intimidation designed to silence him. “When a country has endorsed self-regulation mechanisms, any member of the public that feels offended by media content should consider using self -regulation tools as a first option. Arresting a journalist for what he wrote completely contradicts international agreements and legislation on freedom of speech. Tamakloe just did his job as a journalist and must be freed without delay.”