• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Photo Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Citi TV
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Coronavirus
  • Infographics
  • Livestream
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Coronavirus
  • Infographics
  • Livestream
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana
No Result
View All Result

Assault on Caleb: OneGhana Movement supports calls for independent probe

Daisy Palinwinde JacobsbyDaisy Palinwinde Jacobs
May 16, 2021
Reading Time: 5 mins read
ShareShareShareShare

Social action group, OneGhana Movement, has backed calls for an independent probe to be conducted into the detention and assault of Citi News‘ Caleb Kudah by National Security operatives.

“We condemn these barbaric acts and join the call by OccupyGhana for an independent body to be set up by government to investigate this issue as a matter of urgency,” the group said in a statement.

The assault on Caleb Kudah last Tuesday has dominated discussions in Ghana.

Mr. Kudah was detained and assaulted by National Security operatives for filming abandoned MASLOC vehicles parked at the premises of the security agency.

Some heavily-armed National Security operatives subsequently stormed the premises of Citi FM/Citi TV to pick up Broadcast Journalist, Zoe Abu-Baidoo Addo for receiving some of the files captured by Mr. Kudah.

In the statement, OneGhana Movement condemned the action by the National Security insisting that the action is a breach of Ghana’s Constitution.

“The action of the National Security operatives amounted to an illegality and a breach of the Constitution (1992). The Constitution guarantees the fundamental human right of ‘all persons’.”

The statement noted that the National Security seems to be operating as a police service, which is illegal.

“It is also worrying to note that the National Security is almost operating a “police service”. The National Security Ministry is not a police service, it is an intelligence agency and should operate as such. Article 200 (2) provides that no person or authority shall raise any police service except by or under the authority of an act of Parliament.”

“The modus operandi of the Nationality Security, as it is now, amounts to usurpation of the powers of the IGP and a breach of the constitution of Ghana. Indeed, similar findings were made against the National Security in the Ayawaso West Commission Report where the Commission recommended among others that the SWAT team be disbanded. To date these recommendations have been ignored,” the statement added.

The management of Citi FM/Citi TV has since petitioned the National Media Commission over the assault on Caleb Kudah and the invasion of the station.

The National Security Ministry also said it was investigating the issue.

Below is the full statement from OneGhana Movement

It has come to the attention of ONEGHANA® that Caleb Kudah, a journalist at Citi FM and Citi TV was brutalized by officers of the National Security Ministry when he went to their premises to take a video of MASLOC cars which have been packed there for some time now.

Also a colleague of Mr. Kudah, Mrs. Zoe Abu- Baidoo was also physically and psychologically assaulted and intimated by the National Security operative on Tuesday the 11th day of May 2021.

Mr. Kudah recounted the horrific experience he went through for several hours at the premises of the National Security Ministry on the “Point of View Show” a Citi TV program on Wednesday 12th May 2921.

Mr. Kudah’s own testimony and other news reports show that he was unlawfully arrested, handcuffed, and subjected to illegitimate and inhumane treatment including hefty slaps, kicks from booted feet to his groin, and molestation. These were the words on Mr. Kudah on the show:

“They push me and I sat on the chair. They (National Security Operatives Operatives) slapped me from the back, I was trying to appeal to them that they have beaten me enough, but they were just slapping me from the back. I‘ll be talking to another and someone will just come and slap me from the back”

We have also viewed footage of the raid of the premises of Citi FM and Citi TV by officers of National Security Ministry, to track down and pick up Mrs. Zoe Abu- Baidoo. She narrated on the Point of View Show how she was chased to Citi TV Cafeteria after she declined to follow the instructions of the security operatives from the National Security to “come with them” and insisted that they talked to her superior first.

 

 

She was threatened with a gun-actually one of the officers cocked a gun in the midst of simultaneous shouts from the officer for her to be arrested.

Needless to say, she was intimidated and ordered to delete all her personal videos on her phone when she was compelled to go to the office of the National Security Ministry.

We condemn these barbaric acts and join the call by OccupyGhana for an independent body to be set up by government to investigate this issue as a matter of urgency.

The action of the National Security operatives amounted to an illegality and a breach of the Constitution (1992). The Constitution guarantees the fundamental human right of “ALL PERSONS”:

First of all Article 14(1 ) provides that every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of his personal liberty except in accordance with a procedure permitted by law.

Secondly, Article 14(2) provides that a person who is arrested restricted or detained shall be informed immediately in a language that he understands, of the reason for his arrest, restriction, or detention and of his right to a lawyer of his choice.

Thirdly Article 15(1) provides that the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable.

Further Article (2) provides that no person shall, whether or not he is arrested, restricted, or detained be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Lastly, 19 (5) provides that a person shall not be charged with or held to be guilty of a criminal offence which is found on an act or omission, that did not at the time it took place constitute an offence.

The press statement issued by the National Security Ministry (NSM) does not reveal that Mr. Kudah was informed of the crime for his arrest, at the time of arrest and indeed to date, the NSM has not been able to point to any specific offence in the laws of Ghana.

The statement indicates that Mr. Kudah entered the premise by false pretense. We are sorry to state that this “purported” offence of “false pretense” is not known under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) neither does “no taking of photographs’ constitute an offence under the law.

All persons including states institution are subject to the rule of law. If the National Security operatives were of the view that Mr. Kudah had violated any law, what they should have done was to follow due process.

It also worrying to note that the National Security is almost operating a “Police Service”. The National Security Ministry is not a police service, it is an intelligence agency and should operate as such.

Article 200 (2) provides that no person or authority shall raise any police service except by or under the authority of an act of Parliament.

The modus operandi of the Nationality Security, as it is now, amounts to usurpation of the powers of the IGP and a breach of the constitution of Ghana. Indeed, similar findings were made against the National Security in the Ayawaso West Commission Report where the Commission recommended among others that the SWAT team be disbanded. To date, these recommendations have been ignored.

We recall that when Mr. Emmanuel Ajafor a journalist with Modern Ghana was arrested by National Security operatives in a similar incident, the National Security Authority issued a press statement in which they promised to investigate the matter but nothing came out of it.

We think that the call on government by OCCUPYGHANA as was done in the case of “Ayawaso Wagon” should be supported by all well-meaning Ghanaians.

 

ShareTweetSendSend
Previous Post

Use appropriate building materials – Central Tongu DCE to contractors

Next Post

Jospong partners MDGS/MD Power to construct waste to energy plant [Photos]

Related Posts

Top Stories

Guarantor system in EC’s proposed CI laudable – Issah Fuseini

April 2, 2023

Help solve engineering problems in Ghana – GhIE president to engineers

April 2, 2023
Politics

No govt can tax its way out of an economic mess – Ricketts-Hagan

April 1, 2023
News

VP Bawumia launches digital electronic tax clearance certificate for GRA

April 1, 2023
Business

Passage of new tax bills will adversely affect businesses – GUTA

April 1, 2023
Business

We must prioritise tax efficiency over new tax bills – Prof Bokpin

April 1, 2023
Next Post

Jospong partners MDGS/MD Power to construct waste to energy plant [Photos]

TOP STORIES

Guarantor system in EC’s proposed CI laudable – Issah Fuseini

April 2, 2023

Parliament goes on recess for Easter festivities

April 1, 2023

No govt can tax its way out of an economic mess – Ricketts-Hagan

April 1, 2023
Load More
ADVERTISEMENT
Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana

CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative, alternative news that challenges the status quo.

Archives

Download App

Download

Download

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Photo Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Citi TV

© 2021 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Coronavirus
  • Infographics
  • Livestream
  • Videos

© 2021 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT