Justice will be served ‘no matter how long it takes’ – Akufo-Addo on Ahmed Suale’s murder

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed that Ghana’s security agencies continue their relentless pursuit of the perpetrators behind the brutal murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.

Speaking at the closing session of the Third African Media Convention (AMC) in Accra, he assured, “The efforts of the law enforcement agencies to bring the killers of Hussein-Suale to book continue no matter how long it takes.”

In January 2019, Hussein-Suale was shot dead at Madina, near Accra, while driving home. The motive for his murder remains unresolved as the police are still searching for the killers.

According to media reports, two unidentified men on motorbikes shot him three times, killing him instantly. This incident shocked the media community, given Ghana’s notable record of press freedom.

Hussein-Suale’s undercover investigations had exposed human traffickers, corrupt officials, and judiciary staff across Africa. He worked with Tiger Eye, a highly secretive team of investigative journalists led by the renowned Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The murder of Ahmed Suale has drawn global condemnation from various human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and the media.

The African Editors’ Forum, organizers of the AMC, urged the Ghanaian government to diligently track down and bring Hussein-Suale’s killers to justice, as emphasized in a speech by its President, Churchill Otieno.

In his keynote address at the Convention, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights and interests of Ghanaian journalists.

He emphasized that promoting the safety of journalists is a priority for the government.

“Freedom of the media is fundamental to the growth of any democratic society,” he noted, adding that his administration was bent on liaising with the media to advance the nation’s development agenda.

The three-day convention was held on the theme: “Enhancing Freedom, Innovation and Environmental Sustainability in a Dynamic Media Landscape”.

The convention covered emerging technologies in the media landscape, the advancement of best practices in the rapidly evolving news industry, and the creation of new revenue opportunities through partnerships.

Key highlights included discussions on the state of media in Africa, the impact of Artificial Intelligence on new media, integrating the newsroom into the business side of news, and innovative ideas for revenue generation and sustainable growth.

Organized by the UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, the African Union, the convention was hosted by the Ministry of Information, the Ghana Journalists Association, and various media partners.

Meanwhile, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, Africa, has welcomed President Akufo-Addo’s reassurance of the continued pursuit of justice for Ahmed Hussein-Suale’s family.

“CPJ welcomes mention of the case and calls for authorities in #Ghana to match words with action and transparency. Over 5 years since the murder, who are the current suspects and what is the status of the investigation?,” it posted on its X (formerly Twitter”) handle.