A journalist with Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s local radio station, Akyemansa FM, in Akyem Oda of the Eastern Region, has reportedly been attacked by some military troops for taping for filming a joint security operation on the streets of Akyem Oda.
The incident happened when Nicholas Morkah, the host of the FM station’s morning show, was on his way to an event and noticed a sizable group of individuals, including military and CEPS officers, assembled in front of the Akim Oda Post Office in Birim Central Municipality.
Apparently, the Military and CEPS officers were conducting an operation to seize approximately 16 cars, primarily taxis that had entered the country without proper documentation, often referred to as “Togo Cars”.
Nicholas Morkah, the victim, made a statement in which he said that he was shocked to see that five military officials from the Achiase Jungle Warfare Training School had surrounded and started attacking him when he stopped to look into the situation as a journalist.
Below is a copy of Nicholas Morkah’s statement:
JOURNALIST UNFAIR TREATMENT BY THE MILITARY AND POLICE DURING THE JOINT CEPS AND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN AKIM ODA – EASTERN REGION.
Incident:
I, Nicholas Morkah, the morning political show host at Akyemansa FM in Akim Oda was riding on a bike to an event and on my way I saw a large crowd in front of the Akim Oda Post Office in the Birim Central Municipality of Eastern region. As a journalist, I stopped to find out what was happening. All of a sudden I saw about five (5) military officers fully armed from the Achiase Jungle warfare training school moving fast towards a young man and caught him up. They started beating him up and I found it to be bizarre so I decided to take a video of it for records with my phone. When one of them saw me filming them they rushed towards me and I told them I was a journalist but they went ahead to hit me severally and dragged me into their car with the other gentleman and drove downwards. They stopped and asked the gentleman to get down.
At the barracks:
They took me to their barracks to meet their Commanding Officer and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service Officers who had come for an operation to seized about 16 cars particularly taxis that had entered the country without proper documentations (Togo Cars).
The Commanding Officer asked of my identification card and I provided it. He then asked one of the officers to set my phone to factory reset. They cleared all my stored informations including my crucial documents that I will need to complete several correspondence. They inspected my other phone and saw some video materials of police officers, they watched it and perceived that I was an undercover journalist with powerful information so they sent me to the Divisional Police Command for further investigation and interrogations. Military Officer Kwadoe and Mohammed in the company of other two officers took me to Akim Oda Police Headquarters.
At the Divisional Police Headquarters
At the police headquarters, the military officers handed me over to the station officer. I was cautioned and I made my statement. The station officer charged me with Offensive Conduct. He took possession of the phones. I obtained a police bail from Hon. Nelson Ntiamoah at a sum of GH5000.00 and asked to report the next day at noon. I requested for my sim card and a medical form to seek medical attention and it was given to me. I was treated and discharged same day at the Oda Government Hospital.
Updates
I wish to state that I am recovering from the trauma, brutality, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment in the hands of the military officers.
I wish to thank all my sympathizers and asked them to remain calm as we work together to ensure that Ghana become fully civilised democratic country.
I am not perturbed by the intimidation but I am rather strengthened and hardened by their actions to give my best to mother Ghana.
The intimidation citizens experience in all walks of life have killed advocacy, patriotism and innovative ways to bring the needed development we seek as a country.
Nevertheless, God will always at one point have someone to speak to power and authority within the confines of the laws to bring sanity and confidence of the citizenry.
Finally, I wish to ask the Customs Excise and Preventive Officers that, was the operations in the interest of the Republic as we anticipated?
I challenge the CEPs and it’s operational team to publish all details of the cars they have pounded in Akim Oda since 2020 as transparency is one of their core values.
I, Nicholas Morkah, will not stop from being the mouth piece of the voiceless and to advocate for a true democracy.
Signed :
Nicholas Morkah
0541431042
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