GJA criticises Sam George over comments on media closures and engagement with Mahama

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has criticised the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, over comments suggesting that its President, Albert Dwumfour, sought President John Dramani Mahama’s intervention following the minister’s remarks about shutting down politically and religiously affiliated media organisations.

Mr Dwumfour described the comments as unfortunate, insisting that the Association has a responsibility to speak out whenever the rights, welfare and livelihoods of journalists are threatened.

Speaking at the 30th GJA Media Awards in Accra, he said the Association’s engagement with the President was neither personal nor partisan but part of its mandate to protect journalists.

“On November 2nd, 2026, at a media program in Accra, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Honourable Samuel Nartey George, made comments suggesting that the president of the GJA had run to President John Dramani Mahama, our own member, following the minister's decision to shut down some radio stations,” he said.

“We consider those comments unfortunate, particularly coming from a minister whose portfolio places him at the centre of the country's communications and media ecosystem.”

The minister's November 2 remarks, made at a public forum in Accra, included a statement that he would shut down politically and religiously affiliated media houses if he had the authority to do so.

Mr Dwumfour said the Association could not remain silent when decisions affecting media organisations threatened the employment and welfare of journalists.

“That responsibility is neither personal nor partisan. It is at the heart of our mandate as a professional body representing journalists in Ghana,” he said.

He expressed concern about the potential impact of media closures on workers, particularly given what he described as the already poor and precarious conditions of service in parts of the industry.

“I do not expect the GJA to remain silent when members of our association whose conditions of service are already poor and precarious are suddenly thrown out of employment as a consequence of decisions to shut down media organizations. 64 media organizations for that matter,” he stated.

The GJA President acknowledged the importance of regulating the broadcasting industry but insisted that enforcement must be transparent, fair and proportionate.

He argued that regulatory breaches should not automatically result in workers losing their livelihoods.

“The fact that a media organization may have breached a regulatory requirement should not automatically make the livelihood of its workers collateral damage,” he said.

“We must be careful not to create a situation in which the exercise of regulatory authority becomes an instrument that leaves journalists and other media practitioners without jobs.”

Mr Dwumfour also commended President Mahama for what he described as a timely intervention following the Association’s appeal.

He said the President had responded to the GJA's concerns and issued clemency within two hours.

“I must, on this note, once again on behalf of the inky fraternity commend the President, who is a listening leader, for listening to our cry and issuing clemency within two hours. We insist that the President did what is within his remit and good for this profession,” he said.

The GJA says it will continue engaging the President, ministers, Parliament, regulators and media owners whenever developments threaten the safety, welfare and professional independence of journalists.