The late Ahmed Hussein-Suale
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) was demanding prompt and thorough investigations into the death of Ahmed Hussein Suale, an investigative journalist who was gunned down by unknown assassins as he was driving from his Madina residence last Wednesday in Accra.
“We commiserate with the family of the late Ahmed Suale,” the MFWA said and called on the government to demonstrate greater commitment to matters relating to the safety of journalists in the country.
The death of Hussein Suale, a member of the Tiger Eye PI investigative team led by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was shot and killed by unknown gunmen which has attracted local, regional and international attention and condemnation.
“While we are saddened by the death of Suale, the incident brings to bare three critical challenges on safety of journalists in Ghana that must be highlighted and given attention by all actors”, it noted.
The Foundation said while individuals and institutions had a responsibility to protect journalists, the state had a primary responsibility in providing safety and protection for all, including journalists.
But over the years, it said the Ghanaian state has woefully failed to live up to its duties as far as safety of journalists was concerned.
“In the last four years for example, the MFWA has reported 62 incidents of attacks on journalists and media houses in Ghana. This translates into more than one attack on journalists per month”, it stated.
Adding, on many of these instances, the Foundation has often petitioned the appropriate authorities with due follow-ups or issued statements demanding action from them.
Recent examples of such abuses, it observed, included the attacks on a reporter by a body guard of former President John Mahama, the attack on four reporters by security officers of the ruling New Patriotic Party at the party’s headquarters in Accra, soldiers’ assault on a freelance journalist, Kendrick Offei.
Others included police brutality against Joy News reporter, Latif Idrissu and attack on GBC reporter, Yahyah Kwamoah by presidential staffer Stan Dogbe.
Sadly, apart from actions taken by individual media organisations, notably the Multimedia Group, to secure justice for their abused staff, there is no evidence of state-led investigations leading to conclusions and justice for victims. Not even when an assault happened at their headquarters have the police been able to unravel.
For instance, one would have expected the state security agencies to have taken action against the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, on his publicly made and widely publicised incitement of violence against the late Suale.
Unfortunately, over the years, reports on attacks on journalists rarely make top-level headlines in media coverage and discussions. At best, such reports are often taken up by the media organisation of the victims and very few others, and even in that case, the issue is not discussed on a sustained basis.
End
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