(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – FEG announced yesterday that Tommy Thompson, publisher of the “Free Press Newspaper”, died after a short illness at the SSNIT Hospital in Accra. He was 66 years old. He’s believed to have passed away on 21 September. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 13 August 1998, 30 and 28 July 1998, and 23 […]
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – FEG announced yesterday that Tommy Thompson,
publisher of the “Free Press Newspaper”, died after a short illness at the
SSNIT Hospital in Accra. He was 66 years old. He’s believed to have passed
away on 21 September.
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 13 August 1998, 30 and 28 July 1998, and 23
February 1996**
News of the death was made by Mr. Thompson’s lawyer, Akoto Ampaw, at an
Accra circuit court where the deceased publisher, together with Eben
Quarcoo, former editor of the “Free Press Newspaper”, and Nana Kofi Coomson,
editor of “The Ghanaian Chronicle”, were being tried on charges of criminal
libel.
News of the death stunned the court, resulting in an adjournment of the
case. The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, was also in court and
was about to be cross examined in connection with the case when news of Mr.
Thompson’s death disrupted proceedings.
The accused are being tried for alleging in their publications that the
government was dealing in cocaine with intent to use the proceeds to procure
arms to stir up unrest in the country.
They pleaded not guilty and are on bail of 5 million cedis each (US $
2,000). They are being represented by Mr.Ampaw and Emmanuel Ohene. The
government is being represented by the Deputy Attorney General and the
Minister of Justice, Mr. Martin Amidu.
