The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a five-day ultimatum to Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum, General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), demanding a retraction and public apology for what it describes as “reckless and threatening” remarks against journalists.
Dr. Tenkorang-Twum, in a radio interview conducted in June amid a nurses’ strike, claimed that certain journalists had practiced unprofessional reporting and stated, “We have taken note of those journalists. They will encounter us in the hospital. I mean it.”
Addressing a press conference in Accra, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour described the comments as a blatant act of intimidation and a potential threat to the safety of media practitioners. He said the remarks were “utterly irresponsible, deeply disturbing, and unbecoming of a leader of a professional body.”
Mr. Dwumfour warned that failure to retract and apologise within the given period would leave the association with no option but to initiate legal action and hold Dr. Tenkorang-Twum personally accountable for any harm suffered by journalists in health facilities. He also indicated that the GJA was ready to petition the National Media Commission (NMC), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Ghana Police Service for further redress.
Beyond the ultimatum, the GJA urged political parties, security agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure the safety of journalists, particularly those covering the Akwatia by-election on September 2. It also called on media houses to provide protective measures for reporters in the field.
