We will file a complaint against police officers who attacked our reporters – Ghanaian Times

General News of Saturday, March 16, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-03-16

The Ghanaian Times has announced in a print media that it will file a complaint against police officers who badaulted three of its reporters earlier this week.

In an interview with Citi News, Ghanaian Times editor David Agbenu said his team will soon publish a report on this attack on the Ministry of Information, which should be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance. Interior so that appropriate measures are taken.

"We have established initial contacts with the Ministry of Information because it is our area minister and we will provide him with a full report and request that the case be officially reported to the Minister. of the Interior, which is responsible for the police, so that appropriate measures are taken. is taken."

"The police say that she is charging Malik for badault. We contest it and we will file a complaint against the police for attacking our journalists and also for damaging our vehicle. "

Meanwhile, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has stated that if the authorities do not punish the police officers in a timely manner, they may resort to picketing at the police headquarters.

"I told the police that we were taking them to the letter and that we were waiting to see the concrete steps that they will take against these misguided policemen. I think it's just that we give them a reasonable period of time to complete their investigations and take the steps that they will take against the culprits. "

"If after what we believe is a reasonable time has elapsed and we hear nothing more, we will announce a new line of action and we do not rule out the possibility of mobilizing the media and picketing at the police headquarters, "responsible for programs. at the MFWA, said Muheeb Saeed.

One of the reporters, Raissa Sambo, was reportedly admitted to the Ridge Hospital after being badaulted Thursday by a police officer from the motorized transport department around the Kinbu truck park in Accra.

The other reporters, Malik Suleman and Salifu Abdul Rahman, reportedly helped the police investigate the case.

The police officer allegedly broke his unregistered motorcycle in the car in which the journalists were.

After being questioned by the reporters, the officer took offense at the offensive and attacked them when one of the reporters attempted to film what was happening.

"Attacks on journalists are becoming commonplace in Ghana"

Attacks on journalists in Ghana are becoming a common phenomenon with police officers being among the perpetrators.

In the past two years, more than 15 of these cases have been reported.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) also said it has recorded about 62 such incidents against journalists over the past four years.

"Despite the many reported cases of offenses against journalists, the perpetrators have been punished very rarely, if at all. This culture of impunity for crimes against journalists only encourages the perpetrators and encourages others to abuse journalists at the least risk. Many reported crimes are investigated or ended with a simple police statement that investigations have been opened, "said MFWA in one of its reports.

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) also condemned the attack and called on the police to identify the perpetrator and punish him accordingly.