Former Multimedia employee who is now a freelance journalist
Manasseh Azure Awuni has lashed out at the Akufo-Addo government over its
handling of the threat received by late Tiger Eye journalist Ahmed Suale even
before his death.
The journalist said the
government is quick to arrest other people for issuing threats but has so far
failed to deal decisively with “someone” [referring to Kennedy Agyapong] who
threatened a journalist someone threatened a journalist, who was later killed.
Mr. Azure Awuni argued that that
someone “put a photograph of the undercover journalist on television and
ordered whoever saw him to attack him and he would pay. He even mentioned where
the undercover journalist lived. Nothing was done to him even though the
threats were viral”.
“Ahmed Hussein-Suale, the
journalist, was shot and killed after those threats. And nothing has happened
to the one who issued the threat.” He said.
Mr. Azure Awuni said in Ghana
today “many journalists are living in fear but are too afraid to even mention
it.”
He was writing in response to
claims by Information Minister designate that government was unaware Manasseh
Azure Awuni left the country based on threats on his life.
Mr. Azure Awuni said Mr. Oppong
Nkrumah should change his priority.
“So, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, your
priority should be how journalists will not only be safe but also FEEL SAFE to
practise our trade in Ghana. We consider you to be one of our own. Your
competence is not in question. But your effort at promoting the independence,
freedom, and safety of journalists has been abysmal.
And when people claim the
attacks are increasing because of irresponsible journalism, tell them that
irresponsible journalism has always been there. Tell them that the most
irresponsible media house in the past four years has not been attacked because
it is aligned with the governing party, the NPP. So irresponsible journalism,
as condemnable as it is, cannot be the reason for the intolerance of the
government.
There are avenues to deal with
journalistic infractions. They do not include death threats, physical attacks,
killings by unknown gunmen, arrests, detention, and alleged torture by National
Security operatives, as we’ve seen in the past four years.” He wrote.
He advised the government to do
better in dealing with threats against journalist.
“The scariest part is a
perception that if the person who attacks a journalist is a member of your
governing party, then that journalist should forget about ever getting justice.
This perception is scary, but those who hold that view may not be wrong.”
No comments