Advocacy group, OneGhana Movement is demanding justice for the two journalists from ModernGhana, an online news outlet arrested and allegedly tortured by national security.
On Thursday June 27, 2019, some men alleged to be from National Security stormed the office of ModernGhana and arrested a deputy editor for the online news portal Emmanuel Abugri Ajarfor and a reporter Emmanuel Britwum.
The national Security in a statement claims the two were arrested for “cybercrime”.
OneGhana movement in a statement issued by its Secretary Emily Kanyir Nyuur however says the arrest is related to two publications made against the National Security minister Albert Kan Dapaah by the online portal.
“They were asked to pull down the publications, which they did.”
“However, the operatives raided their office, seized some laptops and carted the two journalists off to a location later identified to be the National Security Secretariat, where they were tortured with electric shocks and also subjected to physical brutality in an attempt to force them either reveal their source or to admit to using pseudo names to concoct stories.”
One of the victims, Emmanuel Ajarfor narrated his ordeal to the media where he accused the National security of torture and assault.
The OneGhana movement is demanding for justice for the two journalists and is asking for an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident.
It is further demanding that government steps into the matter and commission an independent probe into the incident
Below are their demands:
- The National Security Minister should as a matter of urgency, thoroughly investigate this inhumane canker within his rank and file and bring the perpetrators to justice. Failure to do so should result in him tendering his resignation.
- Government should then commission an independent investigation into the reports of torture of the ModernGhana journalists, and ensure that investigations are conducted thoroughly, impartially and promptly to serve as a deterrent.
- Government should ensure that any Security Operatives who are found culpable will be held accountable for their involvement in the attacks.
- Government should work on, and adopt a national Action Plan with the sole purpose of safeguarding freedom of expression and safety of journalists, by protecting journalists primarily, and other groups, against threats and attacks.
- Civil Society and the Government must collaborate to promote media literacy among security agencies and the general public to ensure that society can understand and stand up in favour of the safety of journalists and the average Ghanaian, and ultimately, help prevent incidents of security service attacks on the citizenry.
Story by: Karen Quaye/Radiogoldlive.com
