Ghana: Political Activists Attack and Injure Akosua Otchere
The Coalition For Women In Journalism vehemently denounces violence against reporter, perpetrators must be prosecuted
Location: Ghana, AccraDate: October 13, 2023
While reporting on the vetting of a parliamentary candidate, reporter Akosua Otchere was attacked by a group associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC). As tensions escalated, the journalist was assaulted resulting in her hospitalization. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands an immediate police investigation into this incident, those responsible for attacking the Otchere must be held to account.
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On October 13, 2023, Akosua Otchere, journalist with Citi TV and Citi FM, was violently attacked while covering the vetting of parliamentary candidate hopefuls of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Odododiodio constituency of Accra.
The group, associated with the NDC, twisted her hand and took her phone. She was treated in hospital for injuries and later discharged.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) loudly condemned the attack on Otchere and urged police to bring the culprits to justice.
The attack occurred amidst a chaotic scene within the NDC's Greater Accra Regional office in South La. Violence erupted when members of one of the candidates' camps began vandalizing party property, including chairs and an air conditioner. They resorted to pelting stones at the vetting committee, alleging bias and unfairness on their part.
The backdrop of this incident was the vetting process to select a parliamentary candidate for the Odododiodio Constituency, which had been marred by unresolved issues, preventing its participation in the February 2023 vetting exercise. The vetting session aimed to evaluate the suitability of three aspirants vying to succeed the incumbent MP, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who had opted not to seek re-election.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its 2023 Press Freedom Index, revealing a decline in Ghana's ranking from 60th to 62nd globally, marking its worst performance in 18 years. Ghana experienced a decline in its political context score and rank due to reduced media autonomy and support for journalistic independence. The security context for journalists in the country remained largely unchanged, indicating consistent risks to journalists' safety and well-being.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns this brazen attack on Akosua Otchere and calls for concrete steps to ensure journalists' safety in Ghana. The assault demands swift and decisive action from both law enforcement authorities and political leaders to ensure that such attacks are thoroughly investigated, perpetrators are brought to justice, and measures are implemented to safeguard the freedom and safety of journalists.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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