The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is demanding an apology from the magistrate, Arit Nsemoh, who sacked Journalists from her court on Thursday, June 15.
In a statement on Monday, June 19, GJA President Affail Monney, described her action as “gross disrespect to the press corps in her open court”
The GJA, however, condemned the action of the judge and demanded “an apology from the Judicial Service and a full assurance that reporters will no more experience any unnecessary hindrance and indignity in the coverage of the case”.
The magistrate, after the entry of the two suspects who are accused of killing former MP for Abuakwa North, JB Danquah, ordered police officers stationed within the courtroom to prevent all journalists from entering.
Mr Monney explained that the magistrate said she ordered only a cameraman who was allegedly taking shots without permission at the court entrance to leave the premises and that she never issued a blanket quit order to all the reporters.
However, the GJA said her account contradicted that of journalists who were at the court, who quoted the magistrate as saying she did not want any journalist in her court.
“The GJA considers this action indiscreet, reprehensible and an affront to media freedom. The JB Danquah murder trial is of a huge national and international interest, given the tragic circumstances under which the young MP was killed, hence to deny journalists access to open court is to deprive the public in general and the bereaved family in particular the sovereign right to be informed about the proceedings to dispense justice in the case,” the statement added.
