President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has urged the Attorney-General to disclose the investigative report on the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, recently stated that no prosecutable docket has been submitted to his office regarding Suale’s murder, which occurred on January 16, 2019.
The Minister explained that while the investigation is ongoing, four suspects initially detained were later released on police enquiry bail due to a lack of eyewitness identification.
President Dwumfour criticized the Attorney-General’s reluctance to release the investigative report, especially after stating that the docket is not suitable for prosecution.
He also expressed disappointment in the security agencies for what he perceives as a lack of seriousness in addressing attacks on journalists.
The GJA continues to advocate for justice for Suale and other journalists who have faced violence or intimidation in the course of their work.
“As we speak today, we still haven’t gotten anywhere with investigations. The Attorney-General will come out and tell you that he has still not received any docket fit for prosecution. If you have not received a docket fit for prosecution, why don’t you make the docket you have received known to the public? It means that there’s still a docket, if it’s not fit for prosecution, give us the state of the investigative report on the matter.
“So that at least we can all go to sleep and say that this is what the police have gotten to. We are in this country where police officers were shot dead and in a matter of 24/48 hours, police have arrested [suspects]. Without any lead, they have been arrested and prosecuted, and some are on remand. So, that should tell you the unseriousness the security agencies or companies attach to the attacks on the media. This very real,” he pointed out.
He also questioned the last time a politician was arrested for assaulting a journalist
“When was the last time you heard that a politician or a preparator of an attack on the media has been placed behind bars? They don’t take issues concerning the media very seriously.”
Suale was tragically killed by two unidentified individuals on a motorbike with a concealed license plate in Madina. His murder sparked outrage and raised concerns about press freedom and journalist safety in Ghana.