Prince Succeed Fiagadzi
The
Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has boycotted the opposition National
Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nkwanta South Constituency of the Oti Region
after an executive of the party assaulted a reporter in the line of duty.
The
victim, Benjamin Owusu Kwame Obrempongba, a reporter with Adom FM and Adom TV
of Multi Media Group, who was covering the just-ended primaries of the NDC in
the Nkwanta South Constituency, received a hefty slap from the party’s
Constituency Secretary, Prince Succeed Fiagadzi, last Saturday when the
journalist tried to cover a commotion that had ensued between the supporters of
the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Geoffery Kini, and his contender,
Richard Manuribe.
The
Volta regional branch of the GJA, in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed
by the Secretary, Alberto Mario Noretti, condemned the “barbaric” act of the
Nkwanta South Constituency secretary.
The
statement urged all media practitioners in the region to stay away from the
functions of the NDC in the constituency until the party apologises and
replaces the damaged equipment of the reporter. It further promised to pursue
the matter to its logical conclusion.
The
GJA also commended the police for commencing investigations into the matter and
hoped that the police would ensure the offender faced the law.
Meanwhile,
members of the association and media practitioners in the Volta and Oti regions
have asked the party to ensure the medical bills of the reporter are footed and
compensation duly paid to Obrempongba.
According
to the victim, after the incumbent MP had been declared winner with 885 votes
as against Richard’s 192 votes, a misunderstanding ensued among the NDC
supporters at Kyabobo Game Centre, where the primaries were held; the reporter
had gone there to cover the commotion.
He
claimed that when he got to the scene, an NDC supporter tried to attack him for
taking pictures but the police intervened. As he moved away from the scene, the
NDC secretary started issuing threats and in the process rushed on him and gave
him a hefty slap.
He
said as if that was not enough, the secretary snatched his phone and smashed it
on the floor, shouting “I told you to stop the coverage and you are still doing
it!”
Obrempongba
had since reported the case to the police at Nkwanta and had also received some
treatment from the St Joseph’s Hospital.
The
investigator of the case, who gave his name as Godsway, confirmed the incident
saying “it is true; a report has been made. I’ve invited the suspect and I’m
taking his statement. I will get back to you when I finish.”
The
reporter told DAILY GUIDE later that “since Saturday, I’ve been having severe
pains in my right ear and neck. I’ve not been able to get out of the room.”
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com)
