The Press Attaché of US Embassy in Ghana, Mr. Kevin Brosnahan has expressed worry over the state Agency’s inability to bring finality to the Ahmed Suale murder case.
He said it’s been five years since the Investigative Journalist was murdered but nothing concrete has been heard from the state security.
In his view, the killers must be brought to Justice to appease the family of Ahmed Suale and the Journalism fraternity.
Mr. Brosnahan was speaking at the Commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day 2024 (WPFD) held in Koforidua in the Eastern region on Friday (May 3, 2024).
“Let me be clear: Physical attacks, intimidation, and threats against journalists are unacceptable. Period.
Many journalists around the world have been killed in the line of duty. That includes Ahmed Suale, who was murdered in Accra in 2019. Five years have passed without justice for Ahmed Suale and his family. It is far passed time for his loved ones to have closure and for those who murdered him to face justice”, Mr. Brosnahan stressed.
The Press Attaché also called for a halt in attacks on Journalists stressing that over the past year, Ghana has recorded multiple invasions of media houses and physical attacks on journalists with very few consequences.
“We’ve also seen individuals affiliated with political candidates accused of physical abuse of journalists”, he added.
He later emphasized that the WPFD is a time to reflect on the current state of press freedom here and around the world, to celebrate our achievements, identify challenges, and work together to strengthen press freedom and the journalism professional here in Ghana and around the world.
He said as elections approach both in Ghana and US it was important for Journalists to play the role of analysts, helping voters understand their rights, the issues, their choices, and how to participate.
“We are in an election year both in Ghana and the United States. The role of a free press and professional journalists is never more important than during an election year”, he indicated.
The GJA President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, on his part, reminded Journalists of their watch dog role as the fourth Estate of the realm in deepening democracy and holding state institutions and officials accountable.
He decried the rate at which the country’s environment has been destroyed with water bodies been polluted owing to galamsey activities.
He therefore appealed to the media to intensify the fight against galamsey.
This year’s WPFD was under the theme : “Leveraging Journalists for a Sustainable Environment and Future”.
