…Call Journalists Rats and threatens to eliminate one before elections
As the nation still grapples with the assassination of Journalist, Ahmed Suale by secret assailants, an alleged New Patriotic Party (NPP) sympathizer has sparked concern by threatening to assassinate another journalist associated with Dagbon FM in the North.
In a series of menacing social media posts, Sumani Alhassan targeted journalist Sadi Gariba, expressing the view that Gariba should not survive to witness the upcoming December 7 general election.
Propagating the NPP’s strong determination to secure a third consecutive term in office, Alhassan indicated a willingness to resort to extreme measures to safeguard the party’s electoral prospects.
Lending weight to his threats, Alhassan stated, “We are using all means, I mean ‘all means,’ to break the 8, even if it requires eliminating some rats.”
Additionally, he declared that “Sadi Gariba will not reach this December election” and called upon his followers to take note of his prediction.
The online outburst has triggered public outrage, with several social media users urging prompt intervention by the police to prevent any violent escalation.
Concerns have been raised over the potential consequences of inaction, particularly given the chilling reminder of the unresolved 2018 murder of undercover journalist Ahmed Suale following similar threats from politician Ken Agyapong.
In June 2018, Tiger Eye PI released a documentary dubbed Number 12. It captured the bribery, corruption and match-fixing at the GFA when Nyantakyi was its President.
More damning was part of the documentary that captured Nyantakyi boldly boasting about how he was organising some US$12 million to bribe President Akufo Addo, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and several ministers in exchange for juicy state contracts.
When the documentary hit the streets, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) was furious, with one of its Members of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, launching a serious offensive against Suale and Tiger Eye PI.
Eventually, Mr. Agyapong placed a bounty on the head of Ahmed Suale and exposed his identity publicly. Ahmed Suale and the Tiger Eye PI crew have always operated under serious disguise due to the dangerous nature of their undercover investigations.
Kevin Taylor, a prominent US-based commentator, has also joined the chorus of disapproval, advocating for urgent action to address the threatening behavior exhibited by Alhassan.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, Taylor called for decisive measures to avert any risk to the journalist’s life, drawing parallels to past tragedies and stressing the importance of preserving Ghana’s democratic values.
As apprehension mounts over the safety of the targeted journalist and the broader implications for press freedom and political discourse, calls for accountability and preventive action resonate across various platforms.
The urgency of the situation underscores the need for swift and effective measures to address such threats and safeguard the fundamental principles of a democratic society