Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has called on the government to establish an independent body of inquiry to investigate allegations of assault and brutality at the hands of National Security operatives leveled by Citi FM and CITI TV journalist, Caleb Kudah.
In a press statement dated May 14, Occupy Ghana explained their demand for an independent body of inquiry, “We have no faith that the National Security Ministry can provide a satisfactory investigation into the damning allegations. Therefore, we would like to advise the government to set up an independent body of inquiry into the matter.”
According to the Group, it is concerned that police brutality against journalists and the wider public is on the increase and being perpetrated with impunity.
“We also notice the nonchalance in verbiage and the non-subtle attempt of the Chief Director of the Ministry to brand the serious allegations and the Guantanamo Bay-style assaults as ‘interrogation’ that clearly did not respect the right of the person to a lawyer.”
According to Occupy Ghana, such brutish behaviour “have no place in a civilised democracy, a 29-year-old democratic experiment, and under a republican constitution that touts the rule of law.”
“The allegations outline a bestial culture of impunity, an animalistic disregard for basic human rights and a demonic manifestation of tendencies that have no place even in a holocaust camp,” they said.
Occupy Ghana, therefore, called for the prosecution and subsequent incarceration of those accused should the allegations be proven true.
“We are appalled and disgusted, and when proven true by an independent body, we demand that the perpetrators so named, be charged with nothing less than the crime of attempted murder, tried, convicted, jailed, and dismissed from the employment of the government without any benefits,” it said.
Meanwhile the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has rendered an unqualified apology for his comment made regarding the arrest of two Citi FM journalists.
Roland Affail Monney indicated that his comment on the matter was based on the “scanty” information he had at the time he responded.
According to him, at that time he did not know the severity of the issue.
“As I indicated, the information I had before the interview was scanty. What is available now is sufficient, as legal luminaries, distinguished ethicists, and social critics slice and dice the issue from all angles,
“I, therefore, render my sincerest apology for any misimpression created that I was insensitive to the plight of the journalists but excited about the excesses by the National Security operatives. Indeed, those excesses pass for wickedness at its most naked nastiness. And I totally denounce them,” he said.
“As a student of leadership, I have learned that a leader is not afraid to change course when confronted with fresh information which challenges his earlier assumptions.” Mr. Monney stressed.
After news broke about the arrest of the two Citi FM journalists on Wednesday, Mr Affail Monney faulted Caleb Kudah for filming at the National Security premises without permission.
According to him, the journalist accessed information through a means which flies in the face of Article 13 of the GJA Code of Ethics, thus breaching the Association’s Code of Ethics.
“Caleb erred, as far as our ethics is concerned. He clearly breached the ethics relative to Article 13 of our own Code of Ethics which specifies that journalists should take pictures through fair, straight forward and honest means unless tampered by national interest.
“His interest here is not so clear. From the face of it, we believe he erred.” the GJA President stated.
Mr Monney’s comment was greeted with lots of criticisms from industry players as well as the general public.
Beating a retreat, Mr Affail Monney stated that his outfit would see to it that justice will be served to the two journalists.
The GJA President said, “Under my presidency, attacks or threats against journalists, irrespective of the perpetrators or victims, have received outright condemnation. So there is no way the latest one against the Citi FM journalists will be swept under the carpet. Not at all.”
He further intimated that the conduct of the national security operatives could exert a significant chilling effect on the media landscape and, therefore, the need to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book.
The GJA President urged the Committee of Enquiry set up by the Ministry of National Security to quickly move into action to impartially unravel all the circumstances surrounding the issue.
Myjoyonline
