The Ghana Journalists Association has condemned the threats on investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s life as well as against other journalists recently.
“The venom in the latest death notice served on him via email is poisonous enough to snuff life, and for which reason the GJA wishes to sound the alarm bell for all to respond.”
“The GJA totally condemns such barbaric contemplation, machination, orchestration, plot and scheme, whether individually inspired or collectively conspired, to kill a journalist for discharging a lawful mandate guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana,” GJA said in a statement.
According to Manasseh, the threat was sent to him via email on Christmas Day, a day after the article, headlined, “ERRORtoral Commission and Akufo-Addo’s coup d’état”, was published.
The hitman reminded Manasseh of the murder of fellow investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein Suale about two years ago.
The GJA said: “We are monitoring the present situation in the country very closely, and when it gets out of hand, we shall move in swiftly to ensure that we eliminate you to bring finality to these brouhahas going on”.
It observed that the level of intolerance is becoming alarming, adding: “In regard of the foregoing, we call on the Ghana Police Service to investigate, arrest and prosecute the suspect as swiftly and decisively as possible.”
“We also call on the police to provide adequate security to Manasseh and other journalists across the country who have similarly received death threats.”
The GJA also urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to condemn the threats.
“The GJA calls on the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, to condemn the death threats against journalists and give a firm assurance about their safety and security. We also call on the National Peace Council, political parties, civil society organisations, religious organisations and all well-meaning Ghanaians to roundly condemn the death threats issued against Manasseh and other journalists in the country.”
Apart from Manasseh, GTV journalist Abdul Hayi Moomen has also filed a complaint with the police after he said he was threatened by an unidentified gang on Monday, 28 December 2020.
Mr Moomen posted a picture of two of the gang facing a vehicle, with the caption: “I have lodged an official complaint to the Nima police. But should anything happen to me or any member of my family, please help them to track the guy in black (it’s the best shot I could get of him under the circumstances). He and his friends have threatened to deal with me”.
“They say they know where I live and that, that job will be easy”, he added.
Mr Moomen, upon advice, however, deleted the earlier post saying “the police have handled it”, without giving any details of what ensued.
Meanwhile, the home of the morning show host of Accra-based Angel FM, Captain Smart, was also attacked by unknown assailants.
According to a Mile 7 District Police report, all exterior driving mirrors of the radio presenter’s cars were stolen.
The windshield guards of all the vehicles including two Toyota Land Cruisers with registration numbers GE 7113-17 and GS 1-16 and one Land Cruiser Prado with registration number GR 9111-16, parked in his compound, were also taken.
The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has, therefore, charged the security agencies to deal with threats and attacks against journalists.
Interacting with journalists from Ofoase, Mr Nkrumah said “a number of journalists have reported threats and at least one (1) robbery in the aftermath of the 2020 elections”.
“It has been suggested that these threats are associated with their work as journalists,” the Information Minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for the area indicated.
He continued: “It is of critical importance that our security agencies get to the bottom of these complaints and use all the legitimate means at their disposal to unmask the identities of the culprits – whatever their motives – and arrest and prosecute them with speed”.
“Ghana’s enviable reputation as a protector of journalists’ rights and freedoms must be preserved,” he added.
Source: ClassFMonline.com
