The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has expressed deep concern over the violent and barbaric attack on United Television (UTV) by a group of thugs during the live broadcast of the station’s United Showbiz program on Saturday night, October 7, 2023.
The assailants invaded the studio, disrupting the prime-time show, and causing widespread outrage among media professionals and the public.
PRINPAG condemned the attack in the strongest terms, expressing its abhorrence towards such acts of violence against journalists and media outlets.
The association, in an official statement, emphasized the gravity of these incidents in a country that has historically taken pride in its rankings on global press freedom indexes.
“It is important to note that, recently Ghana dropped two places – from 60th in 2022 to 62nd in 2023 in the annual Global Press Freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and a deliberate action to restore hope on the Ghanaian media landscape is urgently needed,” the statement read.
PRINPAG stressed that incidents like the UTV attack contribute to the deterioration of public confidence in the media and undermine the progress made in achieving a positive ranking in the future.
The association applauded the swift response of the police, who promptly arrested 16 individuals linked to the attack, preventing a potential escalation of violence.
PRINPAG called for the speedy arraignment of the arrested persons before a court of competent jurisdiction, emphasizing the importance of such actions as deterrents against future acts of thuggery.
“We at PRINPAG would like to take this opportunity to call on all stakeholders, especially the Police, to expedite action on the 16 persons arrested and arraign them before a court of competent jurisdiction so as to serve as a deterrent to others,” the statement urged.
PRINPAG further encouraged journalists across the country not to succumb to fear in the face of such incidents.
The association urged journalists to continue their work fearlessly, upholding the principles and ethics of their profession, despite these challenges to press freedom.