The Akwamuman Senior High School (SHS) Alumni Association has condemned the attack on Joy News' Latif Iddrisu by some police officers.
In a statement Wednesday, some concerned Alumni members deplored the "unprofessional and irresponsible conduct" of the police, charging the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to get the matter investigated.
"His only crime was because he approached a police officer to ask some questions about the water cannons and tools being used to disperse NDC protestors on Tuesday," leader of the group Clement Amegatse said.
Read the statement below:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Wednesday 28th March 2018.
ATTACK ON JOURNALIST AND PRESS FREEDOM, CONCERNED OLD STUDENTS OF AKWAMUSEC CONDEMN THE UNPROFESSIONALISM OF GHANA POLICE SERVICE
We concern old students of Akwamuman Senior High School, Akosombo, strongly condemn the unprofessional conduct of the police and irresponsible attack on a distinguished old student of our school and call on all human right activist, civil society organizations and the general public to ensure justice to this issue and also defend press freedom and movement, which is the last and only reliable tool for the ordinary Ghanaian.
The award-winning Journalist Iddrisu Latif who works with Joy News was mercilessly brutalized by scores of police officers with gun buts in his line of duty. His only crime was because he approached a police officer to ask some questions about the water cannons and tools being used to disperse NDC protestors yesterday at the CID headquarters to enable him to make factual news report.
The attack on media personnel in recent times has become too rampant and we call on the National Media Commission (NMC) and Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), the Clergy to without fear or favour rise up to the task of protecting their survival with all their might and strength, as nobody can tell who will be next. We do so by reminding them of the quote of Martin Niemöller below:
First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
The earlier the better!
The too often irresponsible act of some Ghana Police Service Personnel always bring the name of the police service into disrepute and the hierarchy, especially the most incompetent IGP in recent time must bow his head in shame.
It is unequivocal that the professionalism of the police has always been questioned and this raises high concern about the value or usefulness of the police training school which is being run with the taxpayers' money.
At all times responsible Ghanaian citizens move around the length and breadth of Ghana to work and we want to remind the police service of their duty to protect innocent and vulnerable citizens in times like this, rather than easily losing control and attacking everyone they see as this will not make them any different from ISIS or any other disgusting terrorist groups.
The police service is supposed to be a highly intelligent protection unit and not a lazy fed terrorist group as they may appear to be at the moment.
In conclusion, we further remind the police service to be very professional and cautious in their line of duty in protecting all citizens, today during the announced Ghana first demonstrations by a civil society group against the Gh-US Military deal.
Failure in that vein will only trigger more danger for lives and properties which was witnessed at the police headquarters yesterday. Innocent citizens including journalists and all other professions will not sit unconcerned and watch being attacked for no crime.
Together we can build a better Ghana, let us all rise up for freedom and against all forms of oppression of the media and the general citizenry. No one must be a spectator!
Signed.
Clement Amegatse
Wormenor Samuel
Felix Bonney
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