GJA threatens legal action against attackers of journalists
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 21 September 2006, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) threatened legal action against persons or groups of persons who physically attack journalists while they carry out their legitimate duties, because “the rising incidence of physical attacks on the media by individuals poses a serious threat to press freedom and the right of people […]
Journalist assaulted by minister’s wife and her companions
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 15 September 2006, David Tamakloe, a reporter with “The Enquirer” bi-weekly newspaper, was violently attacked by Mercy Anane, wife of Ghana’s minister of road transport, and four others, for allegedly taking pictures of her (Anane). The other assailants, three men who accompanied Anane and her sister, hit Tamakloe in the abdomen and […]
Newspaper editor harassed, chased by guards of suspected drug criminal
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 12 September 2006, Andrew Edwin Arthur, editor of ‘The Independent”, a tri-weekly newspaper in Accra, was chased by security personnel guarding the confiscated residence of Kwabena Amaning, a suspected drug criminal who is on remand for drug related offences. Arthur was chased away while taking a photograph of the confiscated mansion at […]
Journalist’s camera broken by suspected drug baron in front of unconcerned police
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 24 August 2006, Kwadwo Ababio, one of five suspected drug barons standing trial for alleged drug offences, threw to the ground and smashed the camera of Ms. Fidelia Achama, a reporter of the privately-owned daily newspaper “Daily Guide”. According to MFWA’s source, on the morning of the incident, while Ababio was being […]
Newspaper photographer assaulted, his camera’s memory chip seized
(MFWA/IFEX) – Ebo Hanson, a photographer for the state-owned newspaper “The Daily Graphic”, was assaulted on 17 August 2006 by sympathizers of suspected drug baron Prince Tsibu Darko, who is standing trial for alleged drug offences. The assailants slapped Hanson several times and beat him, before taking away his digital camera. According to an MFWA […]
Newspaper sued by two different plaintiffs for alleged defamation
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 21 July 2006, the President of the Musicians’ Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Alhaji Sidiku Buari, filed a suit against Compuprint Ltd, publishers of the bi-weekly newspaper “People & Places (P&P)”, and its editor Joris Jordan Duodoo for alleged defamation. Alhaji Buari, a musician and also the acting chairman of the board of […]
Journalist allegedly harassed, sexually assaulted, by employee of ruling party
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 25 July 2006, Dickson Gblogbor, a reporter of the Accra based independent bi-weekly newspaper “The Enquirer”, was allegedly assaulted by a personal assistant of Nana Ohene Ntow, the general secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), at the party’s headquarters. The personal assistant is also alleged to have squeezed Gblogbor’s genitals. […]
Police officer assaults radio journalist, threatens him with death
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 2 June 2006, Hackman K. Afriyie, a reporter for ASTA FM, an independent radio station based in Techiman, a city in northern Ghana, was slapped and threatened with death by Police Constable Eric Gyamfi for his alleged criticisms of the police. Gyamfi, who is stationed at Akomadan, a town near Techiman, also […]
Another minister sues two newspapers
(MFWA/IFEX) – Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Professor Mike Ocquaye, filed a suit at an Accra High Court on 5 June 2006, against the publishers and editors of “Ghanaian Lens” and “Ghana Palaver”, two Accra-based bi-weekly privately-owned newspapers, for allegedly defaming him. Afi Amematekpor, a correspondent of the “Ghanaian Lens” was also jointly sued. The minister […]
Journalist slapped and insulted for arriving late to report on graduation ceremony
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 25 May 2006, Joyce Danso, a female reporter for the state-owned wire service Ghana News Agency (GNA), was slapped by Michael Gberbie, a 46-year old official of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), for arriving late to report on their function. She was also insulted by the official. Danso told MFWA […]
Minister sues three independent newspapers for alleged defamation
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 7April 2006, Ghana’s deputy minister of Trade and Industry, Kofi Osei Ameyaw, filed a suit against “The Insight”, a tri-weekly independent newspaper, and two other bi-weekly independent newspapers, “Ghana Palaver” and “Ghanaian Democrat”, in an Accra High Court, for allegedly defaming him. The deputy minister is seeking damages of 2 billion Cedis […]
Missing editor reappears
(MFWA/IFEX) – The managing editor of the bi-weekly newspaper “Ghana Palaver”, Jojo Bruce Quansah, who was allegedly attacked and reported missing, has said that he went into hiding for fear of losing his life. Quansah said he went to Tema, a suburb of the Greater Accra Region, to seek medical attention and refuge. According to […]
Opposition newspaper launches appeal for funds to settle crippling lawsuits
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 4 November 2005, the “Ghana Palaver” newspaper, supporter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the main opposition party, launched an appeal for funds to pay damages of 1.9 billion cedis (approx. US$220,000) ordered by a court. The damages arose out of legal suits filed against the newspaper by Works and Housing Minister […]
“Daily Guide” newspaper journalists attacked by National Democratic Congress activists
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 1 November 2005, a group of activists from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana’s main opposition party, assaulted Patricia Setorwu and Garneo Caches, reporters for the independent daily newspaper “Daily Guide”. A mobile phone belonging to one of the reporters was also smashed to pieces. The NDC was holding an emergency meeting […]
Newspaper editor questioned
(MFWA/IFEX) – The Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has questioned Osbert Lartey, editor of the Accra-based weekly “Vanguard”, over a an article he published that included damaging allegations against former president Jerry John Rawlings. The newspaper alleged that key individuals in the main Ghanaian opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including former […]
Police seize and damage equipment after journalists attempt to photograph controversial hotel
(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 […]