AWMA calls for probe into assault on Graphic reporter

The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) is calling for a full scale investigation into the assault of Graphic reporter, Della Russell Ocloo, by members of the Glorious Wave Church International.

The group also wants the actions of the police in the said matter probed in order to prevent further attacks on media personalities in the country.

A statement released by the group on Wednesday and signed by Convener, Shamima Muslim Al-Hassan condemned the alleged attack against the Tema Regional Correspondent of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) by the church members and the response of the police when they were called to maintain law and order.

The group says the attack on Ms. Ocloo typifies the increasingly dangerous environment within which journalists, especially women, practice their profession.

The statement said, “The Alliance for Women in Media Africa condemns the alleged assault against the Tema Regional correspondent of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Della Russell Ocloo. AWMA is calling for investigation, accountability and consequences from these alleged actions.”

“AWMA demands a full and thorough investigation into the police’s response. AWMA calls on the IGP to initiate this investigation and call his officers to account,” the group emphasized in the statement.

It further urged media houses across the country to secure their employees with appropriate measures to enable them carry out their work as media practitioners without fear of attack.

The reporter on Sunday escaped physical attack by some irate members of the Glorious Wave Church owned by Prophet Badu Kobi at Sakumono, near Tema.

Unable to physically attack her for what they described as ‘intrusion’, the members of the church accosted the reporter, threatened to beat her and later called in the police who surprisingly arrested her and placed her in custody.

The reporter had gone to the church to cover proceedings after the leader of the church had allegedly made some ethnocentric comments.

Find below the press release of the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWMA CONDEMNS CHURCH MEMBERS’ ATTACK ON GRAPHIC REPORTER, DENOUNCES POLICE ACTIONS, DEMANDS FULL INVESTIGATION

The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) condemns the alleged assault against the Tema Regional correspondent of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Della Russell Ocloo. Ms. Russell is a member of AWMA. This body of nearly three hundred women in media across the 16 regions of Ghana also condemns the actions of the police. AWMA is calling for investigation, accountability and consequences from these alleged actions.

On Sunday 4th August 2019, Della Russell was allegedly attacked by some agitated members of the Glorious Wave Church. Ms. Russell had gone to report on a protest by the ‘1000 Women’s March’ against the recent ethnocentric comments by the church’s lead pastor, Prophet Badu Kobi.

Ms. Russell was allegedly manhandled by church members, they demanded she delete footage she had taken of the church’s activities, and one member threatened Ms. Russell with a club with nails attached to it. The police were called.

The police allegedly:-

– Forcibly pinned Ms. Russell down in the police car

– Seized her phones when she demanded to know if she was under arrest

– Denied her right to call her lawyer

– The Station Officer demanded Ms. Russell be detained and taken to court the next morning

The Police released Ms. Russell without charges, explanation, apology or further action.

AWMA denounces this reprehensible conduct. It typifies the increasingly dangerous environment within which journalists, especially women, practice their profession.

This is another example of rampant violations against the lawful conduct of media practitioners.

The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) responds to these acts as follows:-

• AWMA condemns this act of brutality against Della Russell Ocloo by the church members
• AWMA condemns the actions by the police.
• AWMA demands a full and thorough investigation into the police’s response
• AWMA calls on the IGP to initiate this investigation and call his officers to account
• AWMA calls on the nation’s media houses to secure their employees with appropriate measures to enable them to carry out their work as media practitioners without fear of attack.

The Media, Journalism is a profession. The freedom of the media is protected and guaranteed under chapter 12 of Ghana’s Constitution.

That freedom, guaranteed by law, is increasingly threatened by this violation by citizens and by those whose duty it is to uphold the law and protect citizens.

AWMA issues this statement as a call to action to investigate the Church members behaviour and that of the police.

#AWMAstrongertogether

#JournalismIsNotACrime

Signed,

Shamima Muslim Al-Hassan

Convenor

ALLIANCE for WOMEN in MEDIA AFRICA (AWMA)*

*AWMA is a body of two hundred and eighty women in Ghana working in the Media and Communications.

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