Journalist kidnapped for taking photos of Rawlings' house

Media men with cameras         Unidentified persons Monday afternoon allegedly kidnapped a reporter of Accra-based newspaper, The Insight, after he took photos of the residence ex-President J.J. Rawlings. Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the newspaper told Asempa FM that the reporter had gone to the former president’s private residence at Adjirigano near East Legon in Accra with another colleague journalist to take pictures of the edifice. In their attempt to take shots of the building from a distance, they were chased by some unknown men into a nearby bush where luck eluded one of them, Mohammed Dauda, who was captured and whisked away in a BMW vehicle with registration number GW 8180 R to an unknown place. However, his colleague Duke Tagoe managed to escape. The case has been reported to the police at East Legon who have begun investigations. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. told Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen that he was depressed by the situation. Asked whether his reporters sought permission before taking any shots, he retorted that the house has not been designated as a “security zone” for it to warrant any permission before his reporters could go ahead with their duty. He also intimated that the people did not “tresspass” into Mr Rawlings’s house, adding that they were only taking their pictures standing by the street outside the house. Duke Tagoe told Asempa that he has been scared by the event and feared the worst could happen to Mohammed Dauda. He said even though people saw the incident, they were helpless on the occasion. Kwesi Pratt, who was full of praise for the police in their quick response in visiting the scene of the incident, said he was counting on their efforts to trace his reporter. Meanwhile Kofi Adams, spokesman for the former president, has denied any incident at the residence. He told Joy FM that occupants of the said house have indicated no incident had taken place there. Story by Myjoyonline.com/Ghana