Ghana: Journalists' union demands investigation into assault on reporter
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a release stating their intention to follow through the case of Joe Okyere, a reporter with the state-owned newspaper Daily Graphic, who was beaten on May 25, 2008 at the residence of Isaac Edumadze, Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Eyan-Essiam Constituency of the Central Region of Ghana.
Ghana UPDATE: Journalists' union demands investigation into assault on reporter
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a release stating their intertion to follow through the case of Joe Okyere, a reporter with the state-owned newspaper Daily Graphic, who was beaten on May 25, 2008 at the residence of Isaac Edumadze, Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Eyan-Essiam Constituency of the Central Region of Ghana.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that the GJA has decided to petition the Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes to request an investigation into the matter.
On May 25 Okyere and Philip Baidoo, a reporter of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), went to the MP's residence to interview him about his defeat in his party's primaries earlier the same day. When Edumadze saw Okyere he became infuriated because the journalist allegedly had been critical of the MP in his articles.
The assault was witnessed by Baidoo who told MFWA that Edumadze's security guards beat Okyere on the orders of the MP. In an article in the Daily Graphic on May 27, Okyere however claimed that the MP himself also physically assaulted him.
The GJA also intends to seek audiences with the Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice to ensure that the case receives speedy and just attention.
Prof. Kwame Karikari
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233 21 24 24 70
Fax : 233 21 221084
Website : www.mediafound.org
Email : [email][email protected]