The Ghana Journalist Association have condemned the comment television presenter Captain Smart made about female journalists a few days ago.
A few days ago, Captain Smart took to his Twitter page to degrade the female journalists who cover football major tournaments during the football season.
Captain Smart took to his Twitter page to make a sexist and misogynistic post about female reporters who cover Black Stars tournaments.
In a tweet dated 5th December, Captain Smart insinuated that the female reporters who follow the Black Stars and cover major tournaments have been sleeping with the players hence giving them bad luck in their matches.
The tweet said, “GFA must stop all female TV presenters from following the Black Stars. In fact they “chop” the guys too much. #gfastopthechop“.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Kofi Yeboah described the comment of Captain Smart as baseless and an unwarranted attack on the morality, dignity and integrity of female journalists in general.
“Indeed, we find the comments by Captain Smart sorely sexist, utterly unprofessional, grossly reprehensible, highly repugnant and extremely offensive to ethical and professional standards. Article 6 of the GJA Code of Ethics 2017 provides that “A journalist recognizes the public’s right to fair, unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information,” GJA stated.
It added that, “Also, Article 2(a) of the National Media Commission (NMC) Broadcasting Guidelines provides that “Information given in any programme, should be presented accurately, honestly and impartially”, while Article 5(c) provides that “Statements or information that could be ambiguous or misleading should be avoided.”
We are proud to celebrate female journalists like Portia Gabor and Juliet Bawuah, both of TV3, in the stable of Media General, who won the Journalist of the Year and Best Sports Journalist awards, respectively, at this year’s GJA Media Awards. No amount of derogatory comments, even from within the Media General stable, will lower our estimation and celebration of our fine female journalists,” GJA stated.
“We urge the Management of Media General to call Captain Smart to professional order in order not to call the positive image of the media institution into disrepute. The GJA wishes to reiterate that inasmuch as freedom of expression is an inalienable right, and the Association will continue to champion same, exercising such right recklessly is unconscionable, and that will not be countenanced,” GJA added.