Hawa Koomson, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, is contemplating legal action against the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for allegedly linking her to an attack on a journalist in the Central Region.
The MP claims that the GJA President’s call for a media blackout on her is unjust as the association has not thoroughly investigated the alleged assault on a Cape FM journalist.
Koomson asserts that she initially didn’t take the matter seriously due to her focus on parliamentary primaries. She now demands a retraction of the media blackout statement or evidence supporting the assault allegation.
She questions the GJA’s lack of a thorough investigation before issuing the blacklist and challenges the president to provide evidence of her involvement or issue an apology. If not, she threatens legal action.
The GJA had directed journalists to avoid covering any activities involving the Awutu Senya East MP after an alleged attack on a journalist during the NPP’s parliamentary aspirants’ vetting in Cape Coast. Koomson’s Press Secretary expressed her concern about the GJA’s decision, emphasizing the minister’s commitment to fostering an environment that safeguards journalists.
The minister unequivocally condemned the reported incident, denying all accusations and urging the GJA leadership to reconsider the blacklisting decision, citing the absence of evidence implicating her.
As the situation unfolds, Koomson’s threat of legal action adds another layer to the complex dynamics between politicians and the media, emphasizing the importance of fair and thorough investigations before making accusations with potential consequences.
The broader context highlights the challenges of balancing journalistic responsibility with the right of individuals to a fair investigation and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
