Sections
DONATE
SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM
Account Login
Police PRO Snubs Jollofnews' Gambia Affairs Editor
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 03:09
(JollofNews) - Gambia Police Public Relations Officer PRO Mballow on Tuesday 6 th September turned hard about
investigation over the death of Maryama Ann. The police PRO openly snubbed Jollofnews Gambia Affairs Editor Abdoulie John who was told to “go and seek clearance” before getting any interview. This unwelcoming behaviour by the police spokesman demonstrates an atmosphere of unfriendliness that online journalist encounter from public officers who generally feel they are not answerable to tax payers.This latest hostility towards hard working journalists goes to how press freedom is least respected non protective in Gambia. The investigation at hand carried out by Foroyaa, Daily News and Jollofnews centred on the accidental demise of the NGOs Affairs cleaner hit by a car coming from former Palm Grove Hotel now Hamza Military Barracks located opposite Mile 2 Central Prisons in the outskirts of Banjul.
After two days of thorough inquiry into all the relevant institutions that needed to be contacted, the trio of reporters hoping to reach new peaks resolved to meet with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Edward Gomez. Interestingly the Justice Minister who is an adviser to the Police, told the journalists to go to Police Head Quarters as he was not aware of the accident.
When Abdoulie John introduced himself as The Associated Press (AP) correspondent and Jollofnews Gambia Affairs Editor, PRO Mballow aggressively lashed out at him: “Can I see your press card?”. The journalist subsequently tendered his Gambia Press Union Identity card.
Apparently PRO Mballow decided to complicate things for the said journalist. He ordered him to “go and seek clearance" adding "I don't talk to these papers because they are outside Gambia.”
Taken by surprise, the Jollofnews reporter fought back against this ultimate attack on press freedom responded with a clear message “When President Jammeh met with media chiefs at State House he did not say that! I am doing my job with responsibility.” He then left the PRO office without wasting time.
This behaviour of the Police PRO was unprofessional and shameful and clearly makes one wonder how much the officer understands the role of Public Relations in policing. It may interest the tensely challenging PRO that police misconduct has become an issue of high media attention in the current world.
Written by JollofNews
Jollofnews Poll
Who do you think should be the next President of The Gambia?
Follow us on Twitter
-
Anti-cuts protest at Clegg's homeHundreds of anti-cuts protesters gather outside Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's home in south-west London.
-
Egypt candidate to seek election suspension: lawyerCAIRO (Reuters) - Leftist candidate Hamdeen Sabahy will file an appeal for Egypt's presidential election...
-
Bristol Rovers Speed Merchant Could Be Racing To Posh(GamSports) – Peterborough United are thought to be one of a number of Championship sides...
Comments
Well I guess they get it from their boss Jammeh lol
My sincere condolancies to the family of Ms.Mariyama Ann.
No wonder he asked the reporter to 'seek clearance' because only then can he be assured of protection. And as for the attitude,he dares not to be seen to be sympathetic to the private press.
If anyone believes that Jammeh meant all that he said in his meeting with the Independent Press,then you have still not learnt from history.
Didn't Jammeh say:
- he was not interested in politics;
- no president will serve for more than 10yrs;
- men who marry 2ND wives will loose their homes to the 1st wife;
- promised accountability, transparency & probity;
- Etc,etc.ALL TURNED OUT TO BE JUST FIB.
RSS feed for comments to this post.