The National Democratic Congress is demanding the immediate suspension or resignation of the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, over the arrest and torture of some Modern Ghana journalists.
Editor of ModernGhana, Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri, has recounted how he and his colleagues were detained and abused by officials of the national security.
Abugri has said that he was tortured and beaten by National Security operatives while in detention following a raid of their office and their subsequent arrest last week.
Mr Abugri, who was released on Saturday, 29 June 2019, said he was not spared by his captors who, he claimed took turns to hit and taser him.
However, the National Security said there was no physical abuse on the suspect.
But in a statement, the Communications Director of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, described the treatment meted out to the journalist as barbaric, inhumane and disgraceful.
“We join many well-meaning Ghanaians in registering our revulsion to this barbaric act, and wish to express our deepest concern over deteriorating press freedom under President Akufo-Addo.”
“The NDC hereby calls on Albert Kan Dapaah to immediately resign as National Security Minister or be suspended by the President, to allow for a full scale investigation into allegations of torture of the journalists. We submit that all those found culpable must be dealt with in accordance with law.”
Below is the full statement
KAN DAPAA MUST RESIGN IMMEDIATELY OVER TORTURE OF MODERNGHANA.COM JOURNALISTS.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) receives with utter disgust and complete outrage, news of the manhandling of journalists associated with ModernGhana.com, an online news portal by operatives of the National Security. We join many well-meaning Ghanaians in registering our revulsion to this barbaric act, and wish to express our deepest concern over deteriorating press freedom under President Akufo-Addo.
Sometime last week, Ghanaians woke up to news of yet another gestapo-styled arrest of News Editor of an online news portal called ModernGhana.com by operatives of National Security. The journalists had been picked up for publishing two news articles that were deemed to be unfavourable to the Akufo-Addo government.
It has now emerged that the journalists in question, Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri and one other were whisked away by gun-wielding operatives of the National Security, with their heads strapped in black polythene bags, tortured, electrocuted and subjected to inhumane treatment.
The attack comes at a time our nation is witnessing an upsurge in repeated and consistent attacks on journalists in their line of duty. It is a sad narrative today, that the once revered National Security of Ghana has now become a political tool for terrorizing journalists and political opponents.
The attacks on press freedom, free speech and the creeping culture of silence that we are witnessing under President Akufo-Addo are a natural culmination of our collective silence over one too many attacks on journalists which have gone unpunished in recent time. To remain silent is to allow evil to triumph, to keep mute over these happenings is to encourage this sinister tide.
Not too long ago, Ahmed Hussein Suale, an associate of ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas was murdered in cold blood after being threatened with harm and death by an NPP Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyepong. What was his crime? He exposed the rot and corruption that had taken over the high echelons of Ghana football with the direct complicity of President Akufo-Addo and elements in his government.
Also, Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist with the Multimedia Group was threatened, harassed and forced into exile for his expose’ that revealed the clandestine activities of state-sponsored militia group called ‘’De Eye” at the Osu Castle. Again, Edward Adeti, a Journalist with Starr Fm was harassed and threatened with death for exposing the corrupt activities of Hon. Rockson Bukari, a Minister of State at the Presidency.
The time has come to say enough is enough! The time is now for the Ghanaian people to bare our teeth at this Akufo-Addo government and send a clear message to this regime that Ghana’s democracy and our freedom of speech were won at a price, and not gifted to us on a silver platter.
The media has always been a critical lighthouse of our democracy whose light is fast dimming under President Akufo-Addo, as Ghana’s enviable reputation of a democratic torchbearer in Africa remains under threat.
The NDC hereby calls on Albert Kan Dapaah to immediately resign as National Security Minister or be suspended by the President, to allow for a full scale investigation into allegations of torture of the journalists. We submit that all those found culpable must be dealt with in accordance with law.
It is a shame that President Akufo-Addo is presiding over these barbaric attacks on press freedom and egregious human right violations. His deafening silence on this and similar acts of repression does not do his reputation any good. As a vainglorious believer in the rule of law and a self-acclaimed human rights champion, he can do better.
These barbaric acts will forever remain a blot on his reputation if he fails to act. He must for once, live up to expectation by ensuring that justice is served in this matter. Any attempt to trivialize this issue as we have seen in times past will only encourage the impunity that is already on the prowl in our nation. The time to act to safeguard our democracy is now.
Signed.
Sammy Gyamfi
National Communication Officer, NDC
