The Western Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has strongly condemned the manhandling and assault of a cameraman who works for Metro TV, Mustapha Ashley, by a personal bodyguard of the Member of Parliament for Evalue-Jomoro-Gwira Minister State at the Presidency Catherine Afeku at the premises of the Axim Court House.
In a statement Monday, the Western Regional Secretary, Zambaga Rufai Saminu, said the GJA wants the bodyguard identified as Appiah arrested immediately and made to face the law.
Recounting events leading to the assault and subsequent deletion of videos from Mr Ashley’s camera, the statement said the cameraman, was among other journalists who travelled to the area to cover a court case involving Afeku, the husband of the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira MP, and one Angate Borzar, who is alleged to have been arrested on the orders of Mr. Afeku.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the GJA say before the commencement of the court proceedings, the Metro TV Cameraman was taking videos outside the court premises to support his story since recordings or picture/video inside the courtroom is not allowed.”
According to the statement, Mr Ashley only began shooting outside the court after approval from the court’s registry.
It continued that without any provocation, the said bodyguard (Appiah) who arrived in the company of the MP and her husband as well as the Municipal Chief Executive, Frank Okpenyan, “upon seeing the cameraman with his camera, rushed, interrupted him and ordered hm to hand over to him his Metro TV branded video camera to him”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Ohene Gyan