(MFWA/IFEX) – On 13 July 2008, Asafo Adjei Davidson, news editor of Success FM, a local radio station based in Goaso, a town in the Asunafo North Constituency in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, was allegedly assaulted by a group of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Davidson said he was slapped several […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 13 July 2008, Asafo Adjei Davidson, news editor of Success FM, a local radio station based in Goaso, a town in the Asunafo North Constituency in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, was allegedly assaulted by a group of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Davidson said he was slapped several times, his right hand was twisted and became swollen, and his clothes were torn.
According to the 28 July issue of “Insight” newspaper, the incident occurred at a fund raising ceremony organised by Robert Safo Mensah, the local Member of Parliament.
Davidson told MFWA’s correspondent that the irate party supporters were outraged by his presence at their function because they claimed he has been criticising the party and the MP on a radio programme the journalist hosts.
Davidson said he identified one of the perpetrators as Isaac Darko, popularly called “Mugabe”. The journalist made a report to the police and Darko was arrested and charged with assault and causing bodily harm.
When MFWA contacted the MP, he denied that the party supporters had attacked the journalist. He said he was informed that Darko fought with Davidson and that the court has dealt with him.
On 22 July, the Goaso High Court convicted Darko of the offence. He was fined 200 GHc (approx. US$200).
Meanwhile, the management of the station has expressed their disappointment with the court’s sentence, saying that the fine was not adequate punishment for the attack.
Davidson was treated at Goaso Government Hospital and discharged.
