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After three months of boycott, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and its partners have lifted the media blackout on Farouk Aliu Mahama, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi. The announcement was made by GJA President, Mr. Albert Dwumfour, during a press conference in Accra yesterday.
Mr. Dwumfour stated that the ban was lifted as Farouk Aliu Mahama sought a peaceful resolution. Accompanied by the Minister for Information-designate, Fatimatu Abubakar, and her Deputy-designate, Sylvester Tetteh, the MP met with the GJA and its partners to discuss the matter.
Following a coalition meeting to assess Mr. Aliu Mahama’s conciliatory efforts and pleas from the Minister of Information-designate and her Deputy-designate, along with positive feedback from Citi/FM Management, the decision was made to end the media boycott.
“The GJA and its partners request all media organisations to resume coverage of Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama effective May 9, 2024,” said Mr. Dwumfour.
He highlighted the minister’s emphasis on collaboration between state and non-state stakeholders to combat impunity and enhance Ghana’s press freedom ranking.
Farouk Aliu Mahama has expressed his apologies for the assault on the Citi FM reporter and pledged to work towards rebuilding relationships with the media in the Northern Region and beyond.
The MP also informed the meeting that he had withdrawn his lawsuit against the GJA and was open to meeting with the Management of Citi FM/TV and the journalist/victim, Mohammed Aminu Alabira, for an amicable resolution. He sent an apology letter to the Management of Citi FM/TV and copied the GJA on the same day.
The initial media blackout on Farouk Aliu Mahama was imposed on February 6, 2024, following an incident where he and his supporters assaulted Mohammed Aminu Alabira, a Citi News Correspondent, during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary in Yendi on January 27, 2024.
