GJA leadership clashes over Caleb Kudah’s arrest

Two executives of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has clashed over the arrest of Citi FM’s Journalist, Caleb Kudah by the National Security for allegedly filming at the premises of the “security installation”

In reaction to the news, the GJA President, Affail Monney has stated that the journalist breached the Code of Ethics of the association when he [Mr. Kudah] film the premises of the National Security Secretaite without prior permission adding that his intention was not clear.

“Caleb erred as far as our ethics is concerned. He clearly breached the ethics relative to Article 13 of our own code of ethics which specifies journalists should take pictures through fair, straight forward and honest means unless tampered by national interest.” he told Accra-based Joy FM.

“Caleb shouldn’t have filmed without permission and Caleb should have realized that place is a security zone and in every security zone, the security laws apply. It is a no go area as far as photography is concerned and his violation of regulation might have triggered the over reaction from the security operatives. His interest here is not so clear. From the face of it, we believe he erred,” – He added

But the General Secretary of the GJA, Mr. Kofi Yeboah disagreed with the President. He thus defended Citi FM Journalist Caleb Kudah’s decision to film some grounded MASLOC cars parked within the premises of the National Security Ministry.

“Insofar as the public/national interest was at stake (as evidenced in his narrative), he was firmly within the bounds of journalism ethics, including Article 13 of the GJA Code of Ethics,” Mr. Yeboah said in a post on Facebook.

Mr. Yeboah stressed that “the nebulous identity of national security cannot, and should not, be allowed to strip the media of its cardinal constitutional mandate under Article 162(5): “All agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of this Constitution, and SHALL uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people of Ghana”.

He has further asked Ghanaians to “encourage civility and the rule of law, which are trademarks and honorifics of constitutional governance rather than brute and barbarism, which are hallmarks and horrific of military juntas.”