The United Press for Development Network (UPDN) has publicly commended President John Dramani Mahama for his strong condemnation of the recent assault on JoyNews journalist Carlos Calony and a civilian by armed military officers during a demolition exercise at Spintex Road in Accra.
In a press statement released today, the network hailed the President’s swift response and firm declaration that the incident was “unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” describing it as a powerful reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment to media freedom and constitutional rights.
“President Mahama’s directive for an independent investigation and his insistence on sanctioning the perpetrators are timely and necessary in restoring public confidence in the country’s security institutions,” the statement read.
UPDN, a pro-media development organization, welcomed the President’s proposal to facilitate a formal engagement between the leadership of the security services and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA). This, the organization said, could serve as a platform to foster mutual respect and improved working relations between journalists and security agencies.
“We particularly take note of President Mahama’s emphasis that ‘a free and responsible press is indispensable to our democracy,’ a statement which resonates deeply with UPDN’s advocacy,” the network added.
Expectations and Next Steps
While expressing optimism, UPDN also called for tangible follow-through and outlined three key expectations:
1. Prompt conclusion of the investigation into the assault and the prosecution of the officers involved.
2. Timely engagement between the GJA and security agencies to draft a collaborative framework for future cooperation.
3. Institutional safeguards to prevent future violence or intimidation against media personnel.
The group emphasized its readiness to support any national initiative that seeks to strengthen media-security cooperation and uphold the values of democracy and press freedom enshrined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The statement, signed by UPDN President Rev. Kofi Asante Mensah and other key executives, concluded with a reaffirmation of their commitment to work with all stakeholders—government, civil society, and the media—to protect free expression and human rights in Ghana.
