The United Nations through its Resident Coordinator, Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, has expressed “strong condemnation” over the killing of investigative journalist with Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ TigerEye PI, Ahmed Hussein-Suale.
In a statement copied to citinewsroom.com, the UN said there must be “prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into Mr. Hussein-Suale’s death and full accountability for those responsible.”
Sylvia Lopez-Ekra said the failure of the state to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book, will create an atmosphere of impunity and encourage more violence against journalists in the country.
Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot and killed on Wednesday night by two unknown men while driving home at Madina.
The incident has triggered global outrage and shock as killing of journalists in the country is rare, and Ghana was only few months earlier honoured with hosting the World Press Freedom conference in Accra.
The incident has triggered calls from various organizations and key individuals for speedy investigations, although no investigations have proven that his death is connected to his work.
Sylvia Lopez-Ekra said the critical roles journalists play in countries require that they are protected.
Read the statement below:
Following news of the journalist’s murder, some Ghanaians have pointed accusing fingers at the Member of Parliament for Assin Central having earlier called for retribution against the journalist in the heat of TigerEye PI’s ‘Number12′ but Mr. Agyapong in a media interview denied responsibility saying that he had nothing to gain taking the journalists’ life.
Meanwhile, many calls persist for Mr. Agyapong to be investigated while efforts are made to unravel the circumstances surrounding Ahmed-Suale’s death.
US Congressman, Hank Johnson last week condemned the killing of Ghanaian investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale.
Mr. Johnson in a letter to the US Secretary of State said the US government must also look at possible sanctions including a travel ban against the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong over his conduct and utterances against the deceased prior to his killing and that the US must deploy its security agencies to support Ghana with intelligence among other resources to investigate the murder.
–
By: Jonas Nyabor | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
