The Ghana Journalists’ Association (GJA) has condemned an attack on a Daily Graphic reporter at the Bright Senior High School in the Eastern Region.
The final year students assaulted Damalie Emmanuel Pacome who was at the examination centre to report on happenings during some disturbances during the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on Thursday, August 6, 2020.
The students, instigated by their proprietor, had accosted and beat up some officials of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for not allowing them to cheat during the social studies paper.
Describing the development as an act of savagery, the GJA called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
“This action should be within the context of dealing with recent acts, gross indiscipline and vandalism in various Senior High Schools in the country before the situation spins out of control,” said GJA in a statement released August 7.
It further stated that “the mob attack and nearly lynching of Damelia Pacome has afflicted our souls and caused irremediable pains in our heart. But for the divine intervention of God Ghana would have wakened with a gory news of another mob attack and killing of a young journalist. “
The Association is in talks with the Eastern Regional Police Command to ensure that they get to the bottom of the matter.
“We are particularly interested in this matter and we expect the police administration to handle it swiftly and ensure that justice is served. “
A statement signed by the GJA Eastern Regional Chairman, Maxwell Kudekor indicated that “the Ghana Journalists Association will resist fearlessly any attempt of attack.
“We will not appear vulnerable again in our quest to serve society with credible accurate news with speed.”
The angry students allegedly smashed the phones of the WAEC officials and injured one of them because they are unhappy with strict supervision during the exam.
The presence of a few police officers following a distress call, calmed the situation.
The agitated students, realising the police had left, attacked Emmanuel Pacome, a reporter with the Daily Graphic when he was spotted taking videos of the incident.
Meanwhile, proprietor for Bright SHS, Bright Ampomah has been arrested by the police over his involvement in the incident. He had incited the students to stop writing the social studies paper without the authority of WAEC.
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Source: JoyOnline