It has emerged that the arrest of the Editor-in-Chief of digital newspaper, WhatsUp News has no connection with the publication he did on the Railway Minister, John Peter Amewu as it was earlier speculated.
Mr. David Tameklo was reported to have been picked up by unknown men claiming to be officers from the National Security at gunpoint on Thursday, April 1, 2021. The reason for his arrest was not immediately known but social media speculation suggested that it was in relation to a publication he made on the Railways Minister on that very day.
But reacting to a statement from the Ghana Police Service on the arrested of the journalist, Mr. Edudzi Tameklo, a lawyer for the journalist indicated that his client was arrested based on a yet-tobe-published story.
“On Thursday, there was no issue of blackmail or extortion. It is an afterthought because I pointed out to the Investigator, Inspector Charles Adjei that he is yet to publish the story.” – Lawyer Edudzi stated
The Police statement said the “Suspect was arrested on alleged offences of an attempt to commit a crime to wit: extortion contrary to section 18(1) and 151(1) and the publication of false news contrary to section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29),”
It therefore clear that the journalist’s arrest was not in connection with the publication he made on Mr. Peter Amewu as earlier carried by Awake News.