NDC’s Beatrice Annan blows alarm on alleged meeting between Samira Bawumia and top female journalists

The spokesperson for the John Dramani Mahama campaign team, Beatrice Annan, has alleged that some leading female broadcasters held a meeting with the wife of the NPP flagbearer, Samira Bawumia, at a popular hotel in Accra.

In a post on her X page on June 14, 2024, Beatrice Annan urged journalists to continue discharging their duties fairly and firmly.

“A number of female journalists and morning show hosts who just left a meeting with Samira Bawumia at Tang Palace with fat envelopes should not start any advocacy on social media, radio, and TV on how Bawumia is the best here. We know you, and you are warned,” she wrote.

In a follow-up post, Beatrice Annan commended Ghanaian journalists who, in her view, have been delivering remarkable journalism and helping to shape the country for the better.

Beatrice Annan also conceded that there was nothing wrong with the alleged meeting between the media practitioners and Samira Bawumia.

“I wish to salute all the hardworking journalists, especially female journalists, who have been consistent and fair to both political parties and have discharged their duties in the most professional manner. Some have reached out, indicating their refusal to attend.

“There is nothing wrong if any political party wants to engage journalists and sell their policies to them, but there is everything wrong if a select few want to sell their conscience, dictate the pace, and skew information (as though they were being objective) while they benefit from goodies to the detriment of the collective good of society,” she said.

Beatrice Annan also disclosed that the National Democratic Congress will hold meetings with some journalists to explore ways of improving their work.

“The NDC, in the coming days, will engage journalists openly, seeking policy proposals on how to aid the fourth estate to work better in a secure and tolerant environment.

“Ghana has consistently been performing poorly on the press freedom index since 2018, and this should be a concern to all,” she wrote.

EK