(MFWA/IFEX) – On 27 July 2005, police seized and destroyed the cameras of several journalists who were taking photos of the Hotel Kufour, a building whose acquisition by the President’s son has been a focus of ongoing controversy. Emmanuel Kubi, a photographer with the independent “Ghanaian Chronicle” newspaper, had his digital camera snatched from him […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 27 July 2005, police seized and destroyed the cameras of several journalists who were taking photos of the Hotel Kufour, a building whose acquisition by the President’s son has been a focus of ongoing controversy.
Emmanuel Kubi, a photographer with the independent “Ghanaian Chronicle” newspaper, had his digital camera snatched from him and smashed to the ground. Two other journalists, Roland Acquah Stevens and Justice Annan, reporters for the independent, Accra-based radio stations Radio Gold and Vibe FM, respectively, had their recorders seized and vandalised. Radio host Alfred Kwame Larbi had his mobile phone smashed.
Earlier that day, Kwesi Pratt, managing editor of the independent newspaper, “The Insight”, had gone to the hotel on a similar assignment and was allowed to take photos without police interference. Pratt was protesting the 22 July detention of a TV Africa crew by security personnel at the president’s private residence (close to the controversial hotel) for taking pictures of the hotel “without permission.”
