25 August 2009

Alert

Reporter assaulted by former president's security guard


Incident details

Assault

Afia Pokua, Journalist

This is available in:

English Français
(MFWA/IFEX) - Afia Pokua, a reporter at Adom FM, an independent local language radio station based in Tema, a city adjoining Accra, the capital of Ghana, was on 22 August 2009 reportedly assaulted by a security guard of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

According to Pokua, the guard violently dragged her on the floor, resulting in bruises on her body and damages to a cell phone and head set.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that the incident occurred after former President Kufuor had delivered the keynote address at a special delegate's congress of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), at the Accra International Trade Fair Centre.

Pokua told the correspondent that while reporting live in one of the local languages to her audience on two radio stations belonging to the privately-owned media group, Multimedia Broadcasting Corporation, it became necessary to get a sound bite of the former President in that language for the benefit of listeners.

"When I positioned my microphone to catch the attention of the former President, the guard dragged me away on the floor. I was surprised because I believe he had seen me a couple of times in similar conferences, while the Ex-President was in office", the reporter emphasized.
Pokua said a number of NPP officials including Frank Agyekum, the former President's spokesperson, have apologised to her.

At the same conference, Koby Fiagbe, editor of the pro-government "Ghanaian Lens" newspaper, was also prevented from participating in a radio discussion programme at the congress grounds. Fiagbe said Perry Okudzeto, deputy director of communications of the party, told him he was not welcome, because his safety could not be guaranteed.

When MFWA contacted Okudzeto, he confirmed Fiagbe's assertion but said the police did not allow him access because he did not have accreditation.

Source:

Media Foundation for West Africa
PO Box LG 730
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Legon, Accra
Ghana
alerts (@) mediafound.org
Phone: +233 302 242470
Fax: +233 302 221084
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


Ghana

National security officials violently assault photojournalists 16 January 2012 Journalists attacked by angry mob 2 December 2011 Newspaper reporter receives death threats 17 October 2011 Police arrest two demonstrators 12 October 2011 Journalists intimidated, prevented from covering trial 16 September 2011 See all alerts: Ghana


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.