Dr George Akuffo Dampare , Inspector General of Police
The United Press for Development Network (UPDN) yesterday petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to investigate the murder of Tiger Eye PI chief undercover investigator, Ahmed Hussein Suale.
A statement signed by the president of the group, Kofi Asante Mensah, said the decision to call for investigations stemmed from the confidence its members have in the current administration of the Police Service to ensure that such an exercise is carried out expeditiously.
“I write on behalf of the United Press for Development Network (UPDN) to petition your able office to expedite forensic investigation into the heinous murder of Mr. Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an undercover Journalist who until his sudden demise worked with Tiger Eye PI.
“It is sad and painful that the life of such a young talented International Investigative Journalist be wasted within a split of a second, and for three years nobody has been apprehended and prosecuted,” part of the statement said.
Remembering Ahmed Suale three years on, UPDN said it is hopeful the current administration of the Police Service would probe into “this rancorous and devilish act” and bring perpetrators to book shortly.
“As a leader notable for your swift transformation of the Ghana Police Service that has brought about a celebrated public trust and integrity among Ghanaians, we encourage you to go all out to unravel the mystery behind the Ahmed Hussein-Suale assassination and prosecute perpetrators accordingly,” the statement added.
Journalists’ safety
It noted that culture of impunity for crimes against journalists only emboldens perpetrators and encourages others to abuse journalists at the least opportunity.
“Many reported crimes go uninvestigated or end with the mere pronouncement by the police to the effect that investigations have commenced or it’s ongoing. And we are extremely unhappy with the development. Authorities in the country have over the years failed to take a strong position against abuses against journalists,” it lamented.
The group noted that investigative journalists and other media practitioners had been working in fear due to the inactiveness of state institutions responsible for the protection of life and property, prevention and detection of crime, and apprehension and prosecution of offenders.
The group further claimed that the failure to serve justice would not only have a downward rating of Ghana’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Ranking Index but proffer dark and gloomy democratic credentials for the country’s young democracy.
“We contend that independent journalism is what maintains democracy and it is the fuel for progressive social change and economic development hence the framers of our constitution dedicated a whole chapter (chapter 12) to guarantee freedom and independence of the media,” it stressed.
The group called for deliberate basic safety training for media houses, saying the majority of journalists in the country lack the basic knowledge and skills on safety, and “thus, they easily become victims of attacks”.
“The majority of media organizations in the country also fail to train their journalists and do not have the safety of journalists’ policies in place. We cannot wait to witness the next media assassination or brutality; we therefore respectfully request not just a response in the shortest possible time but remarkable steps to curb this menace,” the petition concluded.
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