Arrest and prosecution of Owusu Bempah – GJA demands

General News of Sunday, March 17, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-03-17

The Ghana Association of Journalists (GJA) is calling for the arrest and prosecution of the founder of Glorious Word and Power Ministries, Isaac Owusu Bempah.

The pastor stormed Radio XYZ offices in Accra on Friday with gunmen threatening to badbadinate one of the channel's presenters, Mugabe Maase. [Owusu Bempah] claims had threatened to sack Ghana.

The station's main producer, Kofi Oppong Asamoah, told Joy News that at approximately 10:00 am, while their flagship programs were being broadcast, the receptionist had communicated with the so-called man of God.

"He insisted that he was going to end Mugabe Maase's life because the animator could not take it to tell the truth about him," said Mr. Asamoah. .

The perplexed guests at the time were constantly asking Reverend Bempah what authority he had to threaten to ensure that the channel was closed and to kill the presenter.

Their questions wreaked havoc on the premises, while Reverend Bempah's well-built bodyguards struggled to mistreat the guests.

The GJA is appalled by the evolution of the situation and unreservedly condemns the actions of Owusu Bempah and called on the police to arrest him immediately and bring him to justice.

A statement copied on Joy News stated that "JAJ is calling on the Ghanaian police to immediately arrest Owusu-Bempah and sue him to deter himself, his appointees and other like-minded people from behaving. in the same way in the future.

"The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, under Article 17 (1), states unequivocally that no one is above the law. This constitutional provision must be maintained by reorienting Owusu-Bempah as a subject and not as the lord of the law, "the statement added.

The Association also called the Ghana Christian Council, the Ghana Catholic Secretariat, the Pentecostal Council of Ghana, the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council of Ghana and other Christian bodies, as well as the clergy and Christianity in Ghana. general to strongly condemn the violent behavior of Owusu-Bempah, brought the name of their faith into contempt, discredit and ridicule.

"We do not believe that aggression and violence are the impulses of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in their quest to save people who perish, Ghanaian Christianity must control Owusu-Bempah and also strive to exorcise any spirit that compels it to betray the divinity of Christianity for behavior driven by dynasty. other spirits, "he said. President, Affail Monney said.

Below is a copy of the complete declaration

The Ghana Association of Journalists (GJA) is appalled by reports of physical badaults against staff of Radio XYZ, a private radio station based in Accra, by the founder and CEO of Glorious Word. Power Ministries, Isaac Owusu-Bempah. We unreservedly condemn the action of Owusu-Bempah and call on the police to arrest him immediately and bring him to justice.

Last Friday, March 15, 2019, Owusu-Bempah reportedly stormed the premises of the radio station in the company of four thugs armed with weapons in search of a presenter of the radio station . In doing so, he and his armed cohorts allegedly abused the administrator and other staff of the radio station.

The attack against Radio XYZ comes exactly four months after Owusu-Bempah reportedly vandalized studio equipment at Hot FM, another Accra-based radio station. Appearing in a news program on the station on December 13, 2018, he reportedly vandalized the studio equipment. These two attacks on radio stations over a period of four months clearly indicate that "the man of God" is rapidly gaining notoriety as a "man of violence" and for this reason he must be controlled.

In this regard, the GJA calls on Ghanaian police to immediately arrest Owusu-Bempah and sue him to deter himself, his proxies and other like-minded people from behaving similarly in the same way. l & # 39; future. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, by virtue of Article 17 (1), states in no uncertain terms that no one is above the law. This constitutional provision must be maintained by reorienting Owusu-Bempah as subject and not as lord of the law.

We also invite the Christian Council of Ghana, the Catholic Secretariat of Ghana, the Pentecostal Council of Ghana, the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council of Ghana and other Christian bodies, as well as the clergy and Christianity in general to strongly condemn the Owusu-Bempah's violent behavior, brought the name of their faith into contempt, discredit and ridicule. We do not believe that aggression and violence are the incentives of the Holy Spirit. That is why, in their quest to save the victims, Ghanaian Christianity must defeat Owusu-Bempah and also strive to exorcise the spirit that would incite it to betray the divinity of Christianity for behavior impelled by other spirits.

The GJA wishes to remind Owusu-Bempah that in a democratic system, the means to seek redress of grievances are governed by the rule of law and civility. Assault, violence and similar behavior are not a civil means of seeking redress for grievances. Even if he does not like the rule of law, the Bible he claims to draw his title of minister does not tolerate badault and violence. From the time of the Old Testament, when God blamed Cain for killing his brother Abel, at the time of the New Testament, when Jesus Christ blamed Peter for being wounded In the ear of one of his captors, the Bible is replete with examples of how God hates violence by man against man. And we urge Owusu-Bempah to seek guidance and spiritual edification in the words of Jesus Christ to Peter after the violent behavior of the latter in Gethsemane:

"Then Jesus said to him, Lift up your sword in its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword "(Matthew 26:52 – KJV).

The GJA wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate its appeal to members and other media professionals in general not to be intimidated by deviants of the rule of law who might want to use violence as a weapon to quell freedom of the press. We have a constitutional mandate to fulfill and we must do it without fear or favor.

However, we advise journalists and other media professionals to maintain high professional standards at all times and strive to be the companion of the truth. Our vocation is to report the truth as pure as it is and not to mingle the truth with derogatory, insulting or provocative remarks. Nevertheless, nothing justifies the conduct of Owusu-Bempah.

Sign:

Monney case

(President)