Avoid actions which do not guarantee journalists’ safety – PRINPAG to National Security

Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has called on the National Security to respect constitutional assurances in chapter 5 (14) (2) of the 1992 constitution following the arrest of three editors working with news website ModernGhana on Thursday, 27 June 2019.

The outfit which believes the security agency unduly kept the journalists in detention for such a long time without following due process has asked that National Security treats media practitioners and all other Ghanaians with dignity and also refrain from actions which do not guarantee thier safety

On Thursday, operatives of National Security raided the offices of the online portal following an opinion piece published about the National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah and NPP MP Afenyo-Markin and in the process the three journalists were arrested.

Meanwhile in a press statement signed by Executive Secretary, Kenteman Nii-Laryea Sowah, the group is asking President Akufo-Addo to take measures to discourage the rising threats to Journalists and media practice as a whole in Ghana.

Read the press release below

PRESS RELEASE

The Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana has learnt with shock and dismay the arrest of Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri, Deputy Editor and another journalist from the offices of online news portal, ‘ModernGhana’ at about 3:00pm on Thursday June 27, 2019.

According to information gathered from media sources, operatives from the National Security stormed the offices of Modern Ghana in mufti and asked that one of its editors, whose name is given as Adjafour, should step out of the office building for a friendly chat.

After he obliged, he realized that the men who neither had badges nor any warrant whatsoever, intend to arrest him.

Adjafour as a matter of precaution decided to retreat to the office door and this led to a scuffle. The National security operatives are alleged to have roughly bundled him into a waiting vehicle.

Immediately after the alleged assault on Mr. Adjafour, a heavily armed Police personnel who had been hiding in plain sight moved into action. They invaded the news media’s office building and carried away computers.

Subsequently, after making contacts with the National security Minister, a delegation from PRINPAG was directed to the command center of the national security outfit which the two gentlemen were being kept.

Upon reaching the command center, the PRINPAG Executives were told the senior officers in charge had gone home and that they could not be allowed to speak with their detained colleagues without their permission.

The Minister had assure the PRINPAG delegation that the two journalists would be released by close of day, Friday 28th June 2019.The two, had since been released.

In our interaction with the Minister, Kan Dapaah, he disclosed that the two journalists were being held for allegedly hacking into the online servers of their competitors and that they have been under the national security radar for a while.

PRINPAG has learnt rather unfortunately that the arrest coincides with a publication by the ‘Modern Ghana’ about the National Security Minister, Kan Dapaah.

In a statement, the government said that the operation was conducted based on a tip that a group affiliated to Modern Ghana is using the facility for cybercrime targeting media houses and corporate organizations.

The statement added that they hack into emails and servers of competing websites and newsrooms and intercept stories for their own use. The CEO of ModernGhana Bright Owusu has described the allegations as ‘rubbish’.

Coming at the heels of recent reported attacks on journalists and media houses in the country and the assassination of Ace Investigative Journalist, Ahmed Hussain Suale, PRINPAG further sees the incidence as an attack on the media practice/freedom and independence in Ghana.

While PRINPAG does not condone any form of irresponsible media practice, the Association wishes to remind all institutions of the need to recognize the work of media practitioners as necessary for the development of the nation’s democracy.

And that any direct or indirect attempt to intimidate the media in the course of their work is an indictment on the efforts that the country is thriving very hard to make in its democratic dispensation. . PRINPAG wishes to call on the National Security Outfit to respect the constitutional assurance in chapter 5 (14) (2) of the 1992 constitution which states that:

A person who is arrested, restricted or detained SHALL be informed immediately, in a language that he understands, of the reasons for his arrest, restriction or detention and of his right to a lawyer of his choice. PRINPAG is concerned that National Security unduly kept the journalists in detention for such a long time without following due process. In this regard, we call on the National Security to:

1.To ensure due process is followed while they undertake any legitimate investigations that they wish to make.

2.To avoid or refrain from actions or inactions that does not protect and guarantee the safety of journalists in the country.

3.Caution its operatives to treat media practitioners and all other Ghanaians with dignity and within the confines of civility and where they ought to exercise discretion exercise it in a fair, reasonable and just manner.

4.Take steps to update the public on all other investigations and actions being taken by state security apparatus in relation to assault and unfair harassment of media practitioners including the status of investigations into the murder of investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussain Suale.

We call on the President to take measures to discourage the rising threats to Journalists and media practice in Ghana and urge the public to guard against any act that is inimical to the freedom of speech prescribed and guaranteed in the 1992 constitution. Such tendencies only erode the huge gains that Ghana has made in the area of Freedom and Independence of the media.

Source: PRINPAG