Why Bernard Avle is afraid of assigning reporters to cover election 2020

Bernard Avle, a distinguished Ghanaian Media Personality, and award-winning journalist, host of one of the most listened to morning show – Citi Breakfast Show on Citi TV/Radio has revealed that he fears for the safety of news reporters of the Accra based radio station who would have to be deployed to cover the 2020 general elections come December 7^th, 2020.

This worry is as a result of the recent attacks on journalists in the country and other forms of violations some have also suffered.

The current issue related to attacks on journalists is the MordenGhana saga. Currently, there is conflicting information regarding their alleged torture and arrest. Another abuse of journalists was also suffered by reporters of Citi Fm/Citi TV by some staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA).

These outcomes and dangers faced by journalists have been condemned by media-related organizations home and abroad including Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

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Concerns raised have had to do with the attack on press freedom in Ghana. MFWA has it that, in the past one and a half years (18 months), it has documented up to 31 cases in which media persons have been violated. This amounts to 40 victims, some of the attacks were mated out to multiple persons.

Bernard  Avle cited the recent attacks on reporters of their media outlet and said “I don’t even know how am going to send people’s children out there to cover the 2020 elections. Seriously I don’t” while hosting his show.

It is expected that the police will do a good job on the cases that have been handed over to them while the government reassures and commits itself to ensure the safety of media men and women and their protection from persons who abuse them and negatively impact their freedom of expression.