“Violence against the media and journalists is an offence to God”—Justice Yonny Kulendi
By Rachel Kakraba
A Justice of the Supreme Court, His Lordship Justice Yonny Kulendi, says the GJA headquarters building in Accra was his home.
He said together with some stalwarts in the media industry such as Kwasi Praat, Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, and Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, Chairman of the National Media Commission, they strategised to confront authority in the building with the aim to make leadership accountable.
“This used to be our home, and we called ourselves the ‘Kabral’. We conspired in this building, maneuvered, and confronted the powers that be in service to this fraternity, which we believe in.”
Justice Yonny Kulendi was speaking at an event to commemorate this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists in Accra.
The programme was used to launch the Journalists Support Fund to provide care to journalists who suffer attacks in the course of their work.
Justice Kulendi said the media plays an important role in society by promoting democracy, good governance, transparency, probity, accountability, and also development, adding impunity against journalists is a concern around the world.
“Journalists and media practitioners make a lot of sacrifices. They take unimaginable risks just to inform, educate, and even entertain society in ways that are crucial to our well being.”
He said violence against journalists is an offence against society and God and called for concerted efforts to end the menace.
“Crimes, aggression, and violence with impunity against journalists and media practitioners is an offence against the society, the state, humanity, and every democracy and loving individual on the face of the planet.”
“In fact, I dare to say that violence against the media and journalists is an offence to God; this is why there is a need for concerted efforts such as this, among others, to address, hopefully substantially mitigate, and eventually end such impunity,” Justice Kulendi noted.
He commended the leadership of the GJA for instituting the Support Fund which will offer a helping to journalists and media practitioners who become victims of violence in the course of their duties.
