A fiery challenge is brewing for the presidency of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), as leading contender Charles Mawusi declares war on the relentless assaults plaguing Ghanaian journalists.
With the June 30 election looming, Mawusi is ditching the traditional playbook, asserting that years of press conferences and public shaming have yielded “no palpable result” in protecting media practitioners.
Mawusi, a seasoned communication development journalist, is championing a radical shift towards “pragmatic and result-oriented strategies” to ensure a safer and more enjoyable working environment for journalists.
He argues that leaving the safety of journalists solely in the hands of politicians and law enforcement agencies is a losing battle.
“If a strategy is not working, you look for new ways,” Mawusi asserted in a recent interview, slamming the “days of press conference to come and talk and name and shame people” as utterly ineffective. He proposes a two-pronged approach to tackle the crisis head-on.
Firstly, Mawusi advocates for strategic engagement with those who attack journalists. This goes “beyond the press statements,” aiming to foster understanding about the crucial role of journalists in society and prevent attacks before they happen.
Secondly, and perhaps most critically, Mawusi demands the establishment of a dedicated desk within the GJA. This desk, he envisions, would be manned by an executive member specifically tasked with monitoring and aggressively following up on all cases of attacks against journalists.
This appointee would serve as the “ear and eyes of the Association,” regularly reporting to the executives to ensure swift and decisive action.
Mawusi pointed to the chilling case of the late investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale as a stark reminder of the current system’s failures.
Murdered in 2018, Suale’s case remains unresolved, bouncing between the desks of the Police and successive Attorney Generals – a tragic symbol of justice delayed, and often, denied.
Mawusi believes a dedicated GJA desk would ensure “consistent aggressively follow ups” to demand swift resolution.
Beyond journalist safety, Mawusi pledges to champion media freedom and elevate professional standards. He highlighted his past contributions to the GJA, including securing funding from organizations like Star-Ghana, as proof of his capacity for strategic thinking and resource mobilization.
“If you are a journalist and you are thinking about your welfare, the future of journalism in Ghana then you have to vote for Charles Mawusi,” he declared.
He dismissed the notion of seeking a “strongman” leader, instead emphasizing the need for innovative, credible, accountable, and transparent leadership to revitalize the GJA.
Mawusi concluded with a bold promise: to develop a comprehensive welfare policy for all journalists and to introduce innovative ideas to attract funding, ensuring the GJA becomes a productive force for the profession.
By Gifty Boateng
