Editors Forum, TUC condemn murders
The Editors Forum, Ghana (EFG) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have added their voice to the condemnation of the gruesome murders of Ahmed Hussein Suale, a partner of the Tiger Eye PI Team, and Mrs Josephine Asante, the Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager of the Tema Port.
According to the two organisations, the killing of Hussein Suale was an attempt to discourage investigative reporters from doing their work.
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A statement signed by the Chairperson of the EFG, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, said the murder of Suale was an attempt to intimidate not only the Tiger Eye PI team of Anas Aremeyaw Anas, but also other investigative reporters.
The statement said the killing of such investigative journalists had not stopped the dissemination of news or the exposure of what such murderers sought to cover up but rather emboldened the investigators.
“It goes without saying that killing the messenger has never stopped the dissemination of news or the exposure of what those behind such murders seek to cover up. If anything, it only generates public interest and emboldens the investigators,” the statement said.
It added: “This evil act will not stop Tiger Eye, now an internationally recognised brand.”
The statement expressed confidence that Suale’s murder would not stop investigative journalism, particularly, in Ghana.
“The EFG feels the need to add our voice to the national and global condemnation of the murder of Mr Ahmed Hussein-Suale because it is not just a vicious killing of a fellow human being, but an attack on the media.”
The EFG is a group of editors, senior journalists and media educators affiliated to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
While calling on all to join in denouncing that kind of fiendish deed because it had no place in any civilised society, it said “the murder of Hussein Suale should also serve as a reminder to the media fraternity of the need for us to close ranks and work in unity at all times.”
The statement further called for support and cooperation from the public, especially those living in the crime scene area, with the police, saying: “We take consolation in our belief that the Ghana Police Service has the capacity and the acumen to find the killers.”
GPHA staff murder
Touching on the murder of Mrs Asante, the EFG appealed to residents of the community in Tema where she lived to assist the police to perform as expected.
The statement expressed condolences to the families and friends of the two slain persons, Tiger Eye PI and its leader, Anas, as well as to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
TUC’s take
In the TUC’s statement, it also condemned the dastardly acts and said such heinous crimes were generating a sense of insecurity among Ghanaians, especially those who genuinely wanted to help eradicate corruption in the society.
“We are gravely concerned about the murder of Ahmed, given the heroic role he played in exposing corruption in our society,” the statement indicated, and also condemned the gruesome murders of Ms Asante and Mr J. B. Danquah Adu.
“It is unfortunate that these crimes have been subjected to emotional discussions in the media and partisan politics as the Ghana Police Service is working very hard to track down the coward perpetrators of such heinous crimes,” the TUC said.
According to the TUC, the sense of insecurity those crimes were generating in the society was having very negative consequences, not only psychologically, but socially and economically.
It, therefore, urged the government to provide the necessary resources to the security agencies to track down the criminals involved in the crimes to ensure the provision of high quality service for all people living in Ghana.