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GJA expresses concern about
distractions at media centre at AICC
Accra, July 1, GNA – The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)
on Sunday expressed concern about the “distraction and
disruption” that have characterised the operations at the
media centre at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC)
and asked the authorities to address concerns of
journalists.
“We wish (these shortcomings) will be addressed immediately
to offer the media the necessary tools to provide effective
coverage of the grand debate for an African union
government,” the GJA said in a statement signed by its
President, Mr Ransford Tetteh.
“It is our hope that, what has happened will serve as a
lesson to guide us in the holding of other up-coming events
such as the UNCTAD and AGOA conferences,” Mr Tetteh added.
Foreign and local journalists have complained that traders
have invaded the media centre to sell their wares, including
chocolate, kente and alcoholic beverages, this creating an
atmosphere of a mini trade centre.
“The GJA wishes to express its displeasure at the turn of
events and request an immediate review of the status of the
Media Centre to enable media personnel to go about their
work in a conducive atmosphere, in line with best practices
all over the world.”
Mr Tetteh called for a separate centre for traders and
exhibitors at such international conferences organised by
Ghana.
The statement also expressed regret at problems during the
opening ceremony where journalists were “sacrificed” when
organisers faced space constraints at the conference hall
despite at earlier arrangement to allow only 150 local and
international journalists, excluding photographers, into the
hall. Further, the media centre did not have enough closed
circuit TV screens to beam the opening ceremony.
“The GJA considers this development very unfortunate,
particularly in Ghana where the authorities are known to
have acknowledged the role of the media in the development
process,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation,
Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, on Sunday apologised for media
glitches that left scores of journalists frustrated and cut
out, especially during the opening session of the African
Union Summit at the Accra International Conference Centre.
“We apologise for not honouring our promise to allow 150
journalists to enter the mail hall,” she said at a press
briefing shortly after the opening during which frustrated
and angry journalists who had been forced to cover the
events from GTV decided to send a petition to the AU and the
Ghana government.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the heads of state came out with
security concerns that allowed more (people) in and the hall
was filled. We therefore had to rethink our strategy,” she
said.
On the confusion after the opening where security men
refused to allow journalists to either get close to the
Heads of State or even leave the AICC, Mrs Sai-Cofie
explained that the security chief at the Conference Centre
had been told that the journalists were intending to present
a petition to the Heads of State and he took the decision to
stop them from going close to the leaders.
“Unfortunately, some people only wanted to leave the
centre,” she said, adding that the government was too media
friendly to take an action like that. This was just a result
of miscommunication, she said.
GNA
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