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GJA appeals to police to release information in timely

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has pleaded with the police administration to release information in a timely manner to the media to keep the public up to date on crime matters and serve their best interest.

“GJA has observed with dismay a developing trend where the police administration, as part of its communication strategy has centralised the sharing of information to the public and the media.

Even information from towns, communities, districts and the regions are held up in Accra and released from Accra,” a statement signed by the president, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, noted.

Commending the Inspector General of Police, Dr George AkuffoDampare, for his sterling leadership so far, the GJA president acknowledged the magnitude of challenges confronting the police administration and encouraged holistic support for the IGP and his men.

“This model of communication is not new and the GJA acknowledges the vision of the Police Administration to ensure that communication by the police is done properly based on adequate briefs.

This notwithstanding, it is essential to state that information is the oxygen for democratic dispensation and the media, being the Fourth Estate of the Realm thrives on information therefore starving the media of information in a decentralised system using centralisation tactics is impeding the work of the media as far as information dissemination is concerned.”

He said the GJA’s quest “to get this system reversed” followed incessant calls from the rank and file of the media expressing concern over the situation which “the GJA believes is counter-productive and only creates room for speculation and misinformation and disinformation.”

In view of the above, the GJA called on the police administration to rescind its decision on the centralisation of information in the interest of the public.

Meanwhile, the Association entreated all journalists and media practitioners, in general, to remain calm while the national executives made efforts to address the challenge and “ensure a reversal of this system of communication by the Police Administration.”

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