A digital camera belonging to Fred J. A. Ibrahim, a Kumasi correspondent of the Daily Guide, a privately-owned Accra-based newspaper, was on January 11, 2008 destroyed by Yaw Amankwah, a photographer of Manhyia Palace, official seat of the Asante Kingdom.
A furious Amankwah insulted the journalist, seized his camera and ordered him to leave the premises since “the Palace does not need any media coverage”.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the journalist, Daily Guide correspondent at the Manyhia Palace was covering an activity involving important dignitaries including Ghanaian President J.A. Kufuor.
Ibrahim said the Palace Public Relations Officer later came to his rescue and retrieved the camera from Amankwah who had already destroyed it, in an attempt to remove the memory chip.
The Daily Guide newspaper in its January 18 edition, reported that “for some time now, the Palace has become a no go area for journalists”, alleging that journalists covering the Manhyia Palace have been treated with contempt by some officials of the Palace in recent times.Niger
