Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), remains at odds with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) over the directive to media houses to blacklist two Members of Parliament (MPs) involved in assaulting journalists. Ayeboafo criticizes the GJA's directive, deeming it “dysfunctional and unproductive” for public interest and insists on employing legal channels to address such acts of impunity against journalists.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Ayeboafo reiterated his stance, stating that boycotting or blackout is not a democratic and effective method to handle attacks on journalists. He emphasized the importance of resorting to the rule of law before adopting such measures, expressing concerns about the potential rise in impunity through the directive.
Albert Dwumfour of the GJA rebutted Ayeboafo's position, asserting the association's commitment to safeguarding journalists against assault.
Meanwhile, Mensah Thompson, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), strongly criticized Ayeboafo for opposing the GJA's directive. During an interview on Breakfast Daily, Thompson expressed disappointment with Ayeboafo's comments, labelling him a failed journalist who disregarded assaults against his former colleagues. Thompson criticized Ayeboafo's stance on giving a platform to attackers and urged him to acknowledge the seriousness of the assaults.
