The Association said that if no considerable progress was made in the investigation of Suale’s murder by March 2025, it would take the case to the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
At a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the GJA, expressed frustration over the six-year delay in resolving Ahmed Suale’s murder, calling it a failure of the justice system and a blow to both journalist safety and Ghana’s international reputation.
“It is very unfortunate and, indeed, disappointing that six years after the murder of Ahmed Suale, no arrest has been made. What is even more disheartening is the lackadaisical police investigations into the murder.
“We urge the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice-designate and the President to take keen interest in this case,” he said.
Ahmed Suale, a journalist with Tiger Eye PI, was murdered on January 16, 2019, in Madina, Accra, after his involvement in the “Number 12” exposé that exposed corruption in Ghanaian football.
Despite assurances from authorities, no one has been prosecuted for his death.
Dwumfour noted that recent claims by Kwame Asare-Obeng, aka A-Plus, the current member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, about providing the Police with information on Ahmed Suale’s suspected killers had raised doubts about the Police’s dedication to solving the case.
He also mentioned that the GJA planned to address other unresolved journalist attacks, such as the assaults on Latif Iddrisu and Ohemeng Tawiah of the Multimedia Groupa Limited (MGL), as part of a wider effort to ensure accountability for perpetrators.
In March 2018, Iddrisu, a journalist formerly with MGL, was assaulted by unidentified Police officers at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters while covering a demonstration.
The attack caused severe skull injuries, leaving him with lifelong health challenges.
The Police’s claim of insufficient evidence for prosecution has stalled the case for six years.
Dwumfour also cited the recent machete attack on Ohemeng Tawiah of the Multimedia Group Limited, who sustained severe injuries while covering illegal mining activities in the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve.
Ohemeng Tawiah, who was leading a Joy News Team to cover a police operation to clamp down on the activities of the illegal miners, was nearly killed by the mob.
An excerpt of the report on the attack published on Myjoyonline reads: “He sustained head and chest injuries, twisted fingers, and multiple cuts on his body after surviving a machete attack, in what appears to be an attempt to cut off his right leg.”
The GJA President described the attacks as symptomatic of a troubling culture of impunity against media practitioners in Ghana.
“We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to these attacks. Journalists play a critical role in our democracy, and their safety is non-negotiable. Justice for Ahmed Suale and others is a test of Ghana’s commitment to press freedom,” he said.
Dwumfour called on President John Dramani Mahama, a GJA member, to fulfill his promise to protect journalists and promote media freedom.
He reminded the President of his commitment during a July 2024 media engagement to support journalists and ensure their safety.
“To avoid doubt, President Mahama is a member of the GJA, and as one of us, we believe that he shares in the frustrations and plights of journalists and must be seen as working for the interest of the media.
“In the matter of Ohemeng Tawiah and another outstanding barbaric case of assault involving Erastus Asare Donkor also of the Multimedia Group Limited, we appeal to President Mahama to take a personal interest in them and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested, arraigned, and punished for their crimes.
The GJA reiterated its commitment to defend media freedom and resist attacks against media practitioners.
“We are poised to reset this narrative. We shall continue to defend media freedom, and, in so doing, we shall not tolerate attacks against media practitioners.
“We call on all stakeholders, including the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, as well as civil society organisations, to help address this unfortunate situation,” it said.
Source: GNA