Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls
for a swift and thorough investigation into the murder of Ghanaian
investigative reporter Ahmed Hussein-Suale.
A member of Tiger Eye, a team of independent reporters led by Anas
Aremeyaw Anas, Ghana’s best-known investigative journalist, Hussein-Suale was shot dead last night
by men on a motorcycle as he drove his car in the Madina neighbourhood of the
capital, Accra.
The reporter helped produce a
major documentary on Ghanaian soccer corruption that was broadcast last June.
The widespread indifference to
the ensuing wave of threats against several Tiger Eye journalists
was condemned by RSF at the time. Those making the threats included ruling
party parliamentarian Kennedy Agyapong, who said Anas should be “hanged.”
Agyapong also called for Hussein-Suale to be murdered during an appearance on a
TV channel run by his wife, NET 2 TV. While a photo of
Hussein-Suale was displayed on screen, Agyapong said:
“This Ahmed, you all know he lives in Madina. When you see him, beat him.”
“The Ghanaian authorities have no choice but to conduct a swift and
thorough investigation into this journalist’s murder,” said Arnaud
Froger, the head of RSF’s Africa desk. “A ruling party
parliamentarian’s hate speech and death threats against this journalist and
some of his colleagues did not lead to any sanctions. This is unworthy of a
country that leads sub-Saharan Africa in terms of press freedom.”
Ghana is ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2018 World Press Freedom Index.
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