The Centre for Social Democracy, Ghana (CSD-Ghana) says it has no confidence in the Ministry of National Security-led investigations as case as the alleged assault of Citi FM Journalist, Caleb Kudah is concerned.
Last Tuesday, Caleb Kudah was arrested at the Ministery of National Security for allegedly filming at the “security installations” without permission. Some officials at the Ministry raided the office of the media firm in a rambo-style to arrest Caleb’s colleague, Zoe Abu Baidoo who they described as his accomplice.
Rairating his ordeal, Caleb Kudah alleged that he was subjected to sere beatings at the point he had to deny his ethnicity (Ewe) to escape from more beatings.
The Ministry after three days of the event issued a statement saying they will investigate the case.
In a statement copied Awake News, the Centre says “We find it strange that the Ministry instead of apologizing to the victims of human rights abuses by the unlawful militia at the Ministry rather sought to rationalize the action of the vigilante-turned police officers that Caleb Kudah, the Citi FM journalist, had gained access to their premises, a public institution paid for by the tax payer’s money, by false pretense.” whiles challenging “the Ministry of National Security to produce any law that defines the offense of ‘entry by false pretense”.
The statement also said that “We also regret to state that we take the assurance by the Ministry that “…the Ministry of National Security strives, at all times to uphold the ethics and professional standards guiding operational duties” with a pinch of salt.” adding that since Ghana’s return to constitutional democracy, security agencies continue to abuse the rights of journalists and citizens on daily basis.
“They disregard their due process rights during arrest and detention. Citizens are subjected to manhandling, unlawful arrests, interrogation, unlawful searches, physical and verbal abuses and detention every day and nothing has been done to change this obnoxious undemocratic culture by our security agencies.”
The Centre further explained that “The reason why we have doubts about the usefulness of the purported investigation by the Ministry for National Security in this regard is the fact that the recommendations of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry have not been implemented”
“DSP Samuel Kojo Azugu remains at post and he has equally been named at the centre of this instant incident involving the Citi FM journalists. It appears DSP Azugu is the only police officer who specializes in commanding such a National Security Militia.” – the state added
Read the full release:
Press Release
UNLAWFUL ARREST, DETENTION AND MANHANDLING OF CITI FM JOURNALISTS
CSD-GHANA HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTRY’S INVESTIGATIONS
Accra, 16th May, 2021 – Centre for Social Democracy, Ghana (CSD-Ghana) has taken note of the statement issued by the Ministry of National Security dated 13th May, 2021 and signed by the Chief Director, Lt. Col Ababio Serebour (rtd).
1. We find it strange that the Ministry instead of apologizing to the victims of human rights abuses by the unlawful militia at the Ministry rather sought to rationalize the action of the vigilante-turned police officers that Caleb Kudah, the Citi FM journalist, had gained access to their premises, a public institution paid for by the tax-payer’s money, by false pretense.
2. We challenge the Ministry of National Security to produce any law that defines the offense of ‘entry by false pretense’.
3. We also regret to state that we take the assurance by the Ministry that “…the Ministry of National Security strives, at all times to uphold the ethics and professional standards guiding operational duties” with a pinch of salt. This is because security agencies, since Ghana’s return to constitutional democracy, continue to abuse the rights of journalists and citizens on daily basis. They disregard their due process rights during arrest and detention. Citizens are subjected to manhandling, unlawful arrests, interrogation, unlawful searches, physical and verbal abuses and detention every day and nothing has been done to change this obnoxious undemocratic culture by our security agencies.
4. We are less optimistic about the outcome of the investigations instituted by the Ministry because we have witnessed several such incidents in the past where nothing is done to perpetrators of such crimes. Again, the Ministry which is an interested party in this matter cannot be a judge in its own cause.
5. The reason why we have doubts about the usefulness of the purported investigation by the Ministry for National Security in this regard is the fact that the recommendations of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry have not been implemented. Some of the relevant recommendations have been stated below for the attention of the Ministry and the general public.
i. The Commission recommends that the SWAT team of the National Security Council Secretariat should be disbanded and operatives be reassigned as appropriate.
ii. The Commission recommends that no masked or hooded men should be used for civilian policing, especially in electoral policing or the execution of intelligence contingent on, or connected with, any ongoing elections in Ghana.
iii. The Commission recommends that intelligence-based agencies should operate under the law and be guided by the fundamental human rights of citizens. In this vein, the Commission also recommends that operatives of the National Security Council should be trained to internalize human rights rules including the provisions on the fundamental human rights of the Constitution within their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
iv. The Commission recommends a strict adherence to the rules on searches and seizures, especially as regards to respect for the privacy of the citizen. Consequently, the Commission recommends that a ministerial directive be issued reminding all state operatives of the need to respect the citizen’s privacy except as authorized by judicial orders.
v. The Commission recommends the criminal prosecution of Mr. Ernest Akomea alias ‘Double’ for the unauthorized possession of firearms under section 192(1) of the Criminal Offences Act.
vi. The Commission recommends the criminal prosecution for the offence of assault, to wit, the slapping of Mr. Samuel George by Mohammed Sulemana.
vii. The Commission recommends the immediate removal of DSP Samuel Kojo Azugu from command responsibility at the Ministry of National Security given his failure to appropriately command and control the SWAT team of which he had charge during the operation at the La Bawaleshie school polling station. It is recommended that he should be reassigned by the IGP.
viii. The Commission recommends the reprimand of Colonel Mike Opoku, for being ultimately responsible for the outcome of the SWAT operation at the La Bawaleshie School Polling Station. His liability is further reinforced by his failure to properly define the mission for which the SWAT team was sent and ensuring that the SWAT team complied with the defined mission. Further, he failed to conduct and internal inquiry into identifying the culprits of the offence when revelations became rife that there were operational lapses resulting in violations of human rights.
ix. It is further recommended, that Col. Opoku be made to immediately release the weapons used for, as well as the persons involved in, the operation to enable ballistic testing and analysis to be undertaken and for further investigations by the police.
x. The Commission recommends that Mr. Bryan Acheampong be reprimanded for his ultimate responsibility as Minister in authorizing an operation of that character on a day of an election in a built up area.
6. There is no evidence that any of the above recommendations by the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry has been implemented. There still exists a unit at the National Security Ministry made up of militias who specialize in terrorizing innocent Ghanaians in very crude and unprofessional manner.
7. DSP Samuel Kojo Azugu remains at post and he has equally been named at the centre of this instant incident involving the Citi FM journalists. It appears DSP Azugu is the only police officer who specializes in commanding such a National Security Militia.
8. It is obvious that there is no political will on the part of government to implement the recommendations of the Emile Short Commission. This further strengthens our position that the purported investigation by the Ministry of National Security in this matter is just a facade calculated to throw dust into the eyes of the general public for this matter to die a natural death.
9. We are calling on all well meaning Ghanaians to join forces and ensure that government takes appropriate measures to restore sanity in all our security agencies such that they will respect the due process rights of all citizens when it comes to arrest, interrogation, searches and detention among others.
10. We are also reminding government to take immediate steps to implement the recommendations of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry.
11. CSD-Ghana wishes to assure the general public of its readiness to mobilize the international community and the international media to bring pressure to bear on the government of Ghana if they fail to act on the above legitimate demands within a reasonable time.
CSD-Ghana.
Cc:
1. H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana
2. Rt. Hon. A. S. K. Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
3. The Ambassador, Embassy of the United States of America, Accra
4. The High Commissioner, United Kingdom High Commission, Accra
5. The Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme
6. The Head of Delegation, European Union Delegation to Ghana, Accra
7. The High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission, Accra
8. Human Rights Watch
9. United Nations Rapporteur on Human Rights
10. Amnesty International
11. All Media Houses
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com
