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 

Ato Abban and Issac Netty, cameramen of TV3 Network Limited, an independent Accra-based Television, were on December 22, 2007 assaulted by a number of policemen providing security at the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Special Delegate Congress at the University of Ghana.

The Congress was to elect NPP’s Presidential Candidate for the country’s general elections scheduled for December 2008. During the voting process, confusion broke out following an announcement by the National Organizer of the party that a supporter of one of the aspirants, Alan Kyeremanten, was sharing money to influence the decisions of some of the delegates.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent reported that in the wake of the confusion, a large crowd thronged to the voting area, and the policemen fearing the crowd might disrupt the process cordoned the area. The policemen ordered the crowd including the journalists, who had set up their equipment and were broadcasting the event live, to leave the area.

Abban told the correspondent that in their attempt to reposition their equipment, the policemen pushed them away and in the process Nettey fell. Abban also narrated how the police used their electronic gadgets to apply electric shocks to their (cameramen) bodies. They then attempted seizing Abban’s camera thereby bringing transmission to a halt for a few minutes.

In another development, Israel Laryea, a journalist of Joy FM, an Accra-based private radio station, was also harassed while covering the same elections live on radio. Laryea was heard on air saying “…are you preventing me from doing my job?” he asked.

MFWA has learnt that a Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service later rendered apologies to the journalists on behalf of the police.

Kwame Karikari, Prof.
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-21-24 24 70
Fax: 233-21-22 10 84
Email: [email protected]

The Headteacher of Padmore Street Primary School in Tema in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, Helen Abrokwa, was on December 4, 2007 reinstated ten weeks after she was allegedly transferred for granting interview to the media about low enrollment in her school.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) reported that the letter which communicated the decision to Ms. Abrokwa denied the allegations that she was transferred for the interview she granted the media.

On November 29, the Ghana Education Service (GES) in a letter signed by its Director General, Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, said Ms.Abrokwa was transferred because of “several previous warnings and adverse findings against her in the log book”.

According to the GES, the decision to reinstate Ms. Abrokwa followed a report by a Committee of Inquiry it set up to look into the matter.

On September 18, the GES ordered Ms. Abrokwa, who had had more than 30 years experience in teaching to leave her administrative position and resume classroom work, a week after which granted an interview to the media.

This incident followed an earlier threat to James Okaija Dinsey, Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, for peaking to the media.

Following the action, there was widespread condemnation from concerned Ghanaians and called for the GES to rescind its decision. On November 15, colleagues of Ms. Abrokwa took to the streets and threatened indefinite strike in solidarity with her.

Prof. Kwame Karikari
Executive Director
MFWA
Tel: 233 21 242470
Fax: 233 21 221084
Email : [email protected]
Website : www.mediafound.org

Hackman K. Afriyie, reporter of ASTA FM an independent radio station based in Techiman, a city in the northern part of Ghana was slapped by Eric Gyamfi a police constable for his alleged criticisms of the police.

Constable Gyamfi, who is stationed at Akomadan, a town near Techiman also insulted the journalist and threatened to shoot him dead whenever he (Gyamfi) is on night duty.Afriyie told Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in a telephone interview that, on the night of the incident, the police Constable confronted him at a Bus Terminal, immediately after a function they both attended. “He started with no provocation, he hurl to insults at me”, “You are a bad reporter”, he said and followed by slapping him five times. “As if that was not enough, he followed me to the nearby police station in Akomdan, where I had rushed to lodge a complaint and further assaulted me in the presence of an officer of the station, Sergeant Frimpong and the wife of one Corporal Addo.Afriyie noted that the Constable revealed that: “You have been disgracing police personnel on air, and I have assaulted you free of charge, because you cannot take any action against me as I am away for operational duty, outside the town”.

Afriyie said his employers later directed him to the District Police Officer who issued him with a medical form to seek medical attention at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital where he was admitted overnight for treatment.