The GJA condemns the barbaric aggression of Ghanaian Times journalists

General News of Friday, March 15, 2019

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

2019-03-15

The Ghana Association of Journalists (GJA) unequivocally condemned the alleged badault of three Ghanaian Times journalists by police officers in Accra on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

The journalists concerned, Salifu Abdul Rahman, Malik Sulemana and Raissa Sambou Ebu, reportedly went in their official vehicle to go to the places of their choice when they decided to film an accident involving a policeman driving an unregistered motorcycle. the vehicle carrying the vehicle. journalists in the center of Kinbu in Accra.

The 10 or so police officers who were not happy that the journalists tried to record the accident and the ensuing exchanges between their driver and the police biker, threw themselves against the journalists and the police. physically badaulted.

Ms. Sambou, a badfeeding mother, was rushed to the Ridge Hospital, while Sullemana, who had been badaulted, was locked up at the police station of the ministries, then released.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Affail Monney, GJA said: "We call on the police administration to promptly investigate this incident and, for once, let's punish the perpetrators of this heinous crime".

? "Information available to the GJA indicates that an unregistered motorcycle police officer struck a vehicle belonging to the Ghanaian Times around 8:45 am today and has picked up speed.

The policeman allegedly climbed into traffic jams and, as he was clearing his way, his motorcycle hit the bumper of a Nissan saloon belonging to the Ghanaian Times, thus breaking the rearview mirror and the windshield of the car. His pbadenger, who saw what had happened, tried to stop him, but the policeman continued on his way, "the statement said.

He added that "the driver of the Ghanaian vehicle Timesvehicle then sued and managed to block the policeman around Kinbu, a few meters from the scene of the crash, after which the reporter got off the vehicle and started the 39; video recording of the incident with his mobile phone. Irritated by this action, the police officer tried to snatch the journalist's mobile phone and, as he had failed, hit the journalist's face with blood flowing from his nostril. Other police officers and a uniformed soldier allegedly participated in the journalist's beatings, pushing, kicking, slapping and hitting him. "

"Other Ghanaian Times reporters in the vehicle – Salifu Abdul Rahaman and Raissa Sambou Ebu – were also heckled, and at the same time, Raissa, a woman who was badfeeding, collapsed and was transported to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital for treatment. "

He noted that "according to the information, the police demanded the reporter's mobile phone, and then handcuffed and taken away in a police vehicle. They then sent him to the police station of the ministries and detained him for about four hours. The police reportedly ignored several of the journalist's pleas to send him to the hospital for treatment. "

"The journalist was then released from the cell and allegedly dragged down the stairs to an office on the second floor where he was allegedly asked to write a statement. But he refused to do so, insisting on the presence of his lawyer before continuing. He was then returned to the cell while a counter officer continued to beat him in the back. It took the intervention of David Eklu, Director General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police, and ASP EfiaTenge, Public Relations Officer of the Accra Region Police, to rescue the journalist from further tortures . "

"The GJA believes that the aggression perpetrated by these officers is barbaric in an era of rule of law, when the police were supposed to enforce the law rather than harbad it. We call on the police administration to seek out and punish the perpetrators of this despicable act in order to deter others and to redeem the image of Ghana's police service against the shameful label of the police. a brutal institution. This incident should not be added to the list of unresolved cases of badaulting journalists by police officers. This culture of impunity must stop now!