GJA condemns Charlie Hebdo attack

The Ghana Journalists Association, GJA, has joined condemnations across the globe against the killing of the 12 editorial staff of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical newspaper.

In a statement signed by the President Dr Affail Monney, the GJA said it was indeed a tragedy of shattering magnitude especially for the families of the victims of that barbaric cruelty.

According to the statement, GJA’s stand is predicated on the principle that an attack against any journalist(s) anywhere is an attack against all journalists in the world. 

It said despite the geographical distance between Ghana and France, journalists are united in the proximity of outrage and revulsion over those brutal killings.

The statement said freedom is the very essence of journalism, so any attempt to curtail this freedom must be resisted at all cost.

The GJA, however, urged journalists to be extra cautious in dealing with sensitive or hypersensitive issues on religion, colour, ethnicity and gender as underlined under Article 6 of the GJA Code of Ethics.

It believes the Charlie Hebdo attack reinforces the need to provide security for journalists who are exposed to risks of all magnitude because of the nature of the profession.

In view of this, the GJA appealed to Ghana government to consider all media houses security zones and extend the necessary protection to media workers.

GBC