General News of Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Source: GNA

GJA ask Asaga to apologise to assaulted journalist

Bolgatanga, April 15, GNA - The Upper East branch of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has appealed to the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Mr. Moses Asaga, to apologise to Mr. William Jelula, a Chronicle Reporter, who was assaulted by some National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters on Saturday. It happened during a procession to a victory rally organized by the NDC.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Regional Secretary of the GJA, Mr. Benjamin Glover.

It also demanded that Mr. Asaga replaces the damaged Olympus digital camera estimated to cost about 800 euros to maintain the good relationship between him and the media. The event occurred when some NDC supporters spotted a person wearing a New Patriotic Party T-shirt and holding an NPP flag on the Nangodi road during the procession. They attacked the person and beat him. The Chronicle reporter attempted to take a picture of the scene and was beaten unconscious.

The statement condemned the act and described it as senseless and contrary to the letter and spirit of chapter 12 of the 1992 constitution that guarantees the freedom and independence of the media. It appealed to Mr Asaga to assist the police to assist the police to arrest the culprits.