Affail Monney, GJA President
THE GHANA Journalists Association (GJA) has reportedly referred an alleged bribery case against a reporter of Accra FM to the Ghana Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Nana Okyere Gyampa of Accra FM is alleged to have persistently demanded GH¢5 million from the managing director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as a condition for dropping a “negative story” against the company.
A statement issued by GJA President, Affail Monney, said the action followed a preliminary investigation and interrogation of the reporter by the GJA on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.
According to the statement, the journalist admitted during the hearing at the Ghana International Press Centre that it was unethical for him to demand money from the managing director.
The statement indicated: “He, however, did that in WhatsApp messages to the MD in order to compel him to end alleged malpractices at ECG. Nana Gyampa could not tell whether he had cross-checked the information he had.”
It said: “After the interrogation, Nana Gyampa again sent a WhatsApp message to the MD today (Wednesday, November 14, 2018) in which he threatened to go ahead to publish damaging stories against the ECG boss as punishment for leaking to the GJA the five million cedi demand he had made.”
According to the statement, “The Association finds the behaviour of Nana Gyampa before, during and after its investigation as unrepentant, arrogant, reprehensible, unacceptable, mercenary and a clear breach of Article 10 of the GJA Code of Ethics which states that a journalist “does not accept a bribe or any form of inducement to influence the performance of his or her professional duties.”
BY Melvin Tarlue