Following the recent arrests of certain journalists in the country, the police have said it is not putting fear into journalists and preventing them from doing their work.
The Ghana Police Service’s Director of Public Affairs, ACP Kwesi Ofori, stated that the police are merely trying to ensure responsible journalism in the country.
“The Police is not doing anything to put fear into the media or to prevent the media in its operations. All that we are saying is that the journalists must be responsible, should make sure that things put out are in line with good practices,” he told Accra based Citi in an interview on Monday, February 14.
The police have come under fire for arresting journalists such as Accra FM’s Bobie Ansah and Media General’s Captain Smart for comments made while on duty.
Three Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), IMANI Africa, and the Africa Center for International Law & Accountability (ACILA), for example, have expressed concerns about what they believe is the reintroduction of Ghana’s abolished Criminal Libel Law.
“We are deeply troubled by the growing use of the prosecutorial and judicial power of the State to punish criminally speech that allegedly falsely injures or damages the reputation of other persons or of an institution of State.
“Instructively, during the heyday of the criminal libel law in the 1990s, the criminal law was used in precisely the way it is now being used: to prosecute and punish journalists and public speakers for allegedly false or defamatory statements against certain family members or associates of the President,” a statement issued by the three CSOs said.
Watch Video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mqseMJfebI
In other news, the attorney of #fixthecountry convener Oliver Baker Vormawo, Lawyer Akoto Ampaw describes a treason felony charge against his client as “cynical” implying that the prosecution is acting in bad faith.
According to Counsel Akoto Ampaw, his client was charged with misdemeanour initially only for them to appear in court to realize his client’s charge was a treason felony.
“Until this morning (Monday), it was a demeanour only for us to appear in court and be told he is being charged with treason felony which has no factual bases,” he told graphic.com in an interview.
Mr Oliver Barker Vormawo a strong advocate of the #fixthecountry campaign has been remanded into police custody after being with treason Felony on Monday, February 14, 2022.
Barker was detained by the Tema Regional Police Command after being apprehended at the Kotoka International Airport on his return from London last Friday. He was arrested in connection with a message he reportedly wrote on Facebook.
Mr Baker Vomarwor was arrested in connection with a social media post in which he threatened to stage a coup if the E-levy, which is presently being debated in parliament, is signed into law.
The presiding judge made an appearance in court today, February 14, 2022. Due to the nature of the offence, Her Honour Eleanor Barnes stated that she does not have the authority to give bail to the accused.
The presiding judge made an appearance in court today, February 14, 2022. Due to the nature of the offence, Her Honour Eleanor Barnes stated that she does not have the authority to give bail to the accused.
She urged the defence team, however, to resubmit their bail plea to the High Court or to appeal her decision.
The presiding judge made an appearance in court today, February 14, 2022. Due to the nature of the offence, Her Honour Eleanor Barnes stated that she does not have the authority to give bail to the accused.
She urged the defence team, however, to resubmit their bail plea to the High Court or to appeal her decision.
Leave a Reply