The Ghana Journalists Association has condemned the Ghana Police Service in no uncertain terms for arresting and maltreating some journalists who were covering Thursday’s demonstration in Accra.

The GJA has described the conduct of the Police as highly unprofessional, absolutely unwarranted and inherently repugnant to press freedom and the dignity of the affected journalists.

While arresting the demonstrators who were gathering at the 37 lorry station in Accra for what the Police described as unlawful assembly and breach of the Public Order Act, some journalists were also picked up.

The Police in a statement denied arresting a BBC reporter and his camera man as well as other journalists but in their own denial statement, they admitted the journalists were immediately released when they identified themselves at the Police station.

The GJA wonders why the Police will want to bury the fact and discredit the media in an unrelenting effort to cover their condemnable conduct against journalists and the media.

The GJA wants the Police to exercise good faith and apologise to all journalists who were wrongfully arrested and or maltreated just for discharging their onerous constitutional mandate.

The Association also expressed its heartfelt sympathies to the affected journalists and wished them speedy recovery from the bodily and emotional harm they suffered at the hands of the Police for no crime committed.

Below is the full statement

Sompaonline.com