POLICE ASSAULT JOURNALIST

Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Journalist who was assaulted

Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, a human rights activist and a British award-winning journalist, working with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in Sunyani, was allegedly assaulted by the Maabang Police in the Ahafo Ano District of the Ashanti Region after he tried to help a farmer who had been unlawfully arrested by the police.

Mr. Ahenu, who is also the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of Human Rights Reporters Network (HRRN), narrated his ordeal toToday.

According to him, he was at his village last Sunday when he was informed about the unlawful arrest of one farmer by name Mr. Emmanuel Gbadasu, by the police for refusing to sell his cabbage to his potential buyers.

Mr. Ahenu explained that he went to the police station to enquire about the arrest of the farmer but the station officer of Maabang police station, Inspector Addo, and his men including one Charles, attacked and manhandled him.

“But for the timely intervention of some good citizens around, I would have been brutally molested by the police,” he told Today.

He revealed that Mr. Gbadasu had negotiated with a buyer from Bechem in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region to buy a mini bag of cabbage at GH¢70.00.

“The said buyer, who could not come in person to buy the cabbage, rather sent some people to buy for him, but when they got there they refused to buy the cabbage at the said price.

…They claimed they had travelled all the way from Accra even though they were sent from Bechem; they demanded GH¢90.00 as transportation fare from Mr. Gbadasu who refused to give them the money.

They became annoyed and reported the incident to the police who subsequently arrested and detained him,” he recounted.

The human rights advocate appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Minister of Interior Mr. Martin Amidu, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbila, and the Tepa District Police Commander, to bring the said police personnel to book in order to put an end to the rampant bullying of innocent people in the area.

In a similar event, residents at Maabang have accused the police of extortion.

They alleged that the police demand monies from them anytime they go to lodge complaint.

In the case of granting bails, they residents hinted that the monies they charged ranged from GH¢50.00-GH¢70.00.

STORY: FROM MICHAEL SARPONG MFUM, SUNYANI