Ghana Armed Forces; are you justifying assault?

It has happened again. Another vicious cycle has recurred. The military has exonerated its men who mercilessly assaulted two photojournalists at the 56th Independence parade at the Independence Square this year.

I would have had my doubts if I were not a witness to the senseless and arbitrary use of military power on journalists going about their duties. The threats and abusive language, particularly from personnel of the military, makes one wonder whether we are in a military regime where instant justice emanated from the bosom of army boys.

Given that I witnessed the incidents, I am appalled and sad that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) acted the way it did even when there was clear evidence to support the allegation that Vincent Dzatse, a Ghanaian Times photojournalist, was manhandled by soldiers.

In plain language, he was slapped around as if he was an assassin who held a knife to the President’s throat. Almost all the television cameramen and photographers captured it.

Mr Dzatse was slapped on the face severally by some military personnel at the ceremony grounds for what they claimed was getting off the mark. Interestingly, Dzatse is the newspaper’s presidential photographer.

On the said day, President John Dramani Mahama after his ceremonial duties descended from the dais to greet the chiefs, political party leaders and other guests.  Nii Martey Botwe, an accredited photojournalist of the Daily Graphic, in his attempt to take a photograph of  the President was shoved aside and electric shock applied to his genitals by an overzealous soldier.

It was obvious during the exchanges that followed that the soldier knew he would have his way after his irresponsible act.

Given that the report of the investigations by the GAF vindicated the soldiers, my understanding is that the military is saying it is right for security personnel to assault journalists in the name of procedure.

Ghana is not a jungle where security officials paid to protect lives will rather vent their spleen on the very people whose taxes pay them under the guise of following due process.

The decision of the GAF not to condemn or punish the activities of its men undermines Article 162 (4) of the 1992 Constitution, which states unequivocally that “Editors and publishers of newspapers and other institutions of the mass media shall not be subject to control or interference by Government, nor shall they be penalised or harassed for their editorial opinions and views, or the content of their publications.”

This is not the first time security officials have beaten up journalists in their line of duty. However, the pain in my heart is that after the loud noise from the Ghana Journalists Association and other interest groups, the issue dies down and investigation reports that come later always exonerate the offenders.

On Sunday, June 10, 2012, a Daily Graphic senior reporter and Regional Chairman of the GJA, Victor Kwawukume,  was assaulted by the Ho Police.

Narrating his ordeal, he said he was at the scene taking notes and pictures as the police arrested people and beat suspects with truncheons and gun butts.

He said as he went about his duties, the police rushed on him and assaulted him on the face and head.
Mr Kwawukume said although he identified himself as a media personnel, the police pounced on him until his friend, another policeman, saved him from the brutalities being meted to him.

The police then seized his camera and asked him to come for it at the Ho Municipal Police Station.

A similar incident happened on January 12, 2012.

On the said day, Daily Guide photojournalist, Gifty Lawson, was attacked by officials of Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on the court premises of a Human Rights Court when she attempted to take photographs of the head of the Commercial Crimes Unit of the Police CID, DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda, who at the time was in BNI grips for two weeks following the alleged role she played in the cocaine swap.

Interestingly, after the court had cleared her, Mrs Tehoda was more than willing to talk to the media and flashed enough smiles to the cameras.

In any case, who said the ideal way to treat people who allegedly violate security procedure is slapping faces and shocking genitals with shock guns.

Like the GJA, the National Media Commission could only be sympathetic. In a statement issued after the assault of Miss Lawson, the NMC released a press statement that said:

 “The wave of attacks on journalists in their line of duty constitutes a grave danger to media freedoms and undermines Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of press freedom and media rights in Africa.”

No journalist is above the law, but it is also important that when security officials are not in tune with the work of journalists, their reactions should be within the confines of the law.

If the GAF and other security services continue to uphold the lawlessness of their employees, they may succeed in inflicting physical and psychological pain on their victims but their image in the international community may be affected.

They should just imagine what reports of assault on civilians would do to Ghana’s image as far as peacekeeping missions are concerned. It is an acknowledged fact that most soldiers relish the day they leave the country for peacekeeping mission abroad.

I would, therefore, urge the GAF to look at its decision again and ensure that those recalcitrant soldiers are dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others. Nobody is asking for journalists to be pampered, but at the same time nobody should treat us like common criminals and misfits.

To the GJA, perhaps it is time to adopt a more draconian tactic to ensure that the rights of journalists are respected.

When in 2005 the Sierra Leonean Police harassment of journalists got out of hand, the Sierra Leone Journalists Association boycotted all police activities. It had a telling effect on the image of the police. In no time, the police called for a truce.

The GJA should also make it a point to seek legal action against persons who maltreat journalists in their line of duty. It is not enough to issue statements condemning such barbaric acts. Let’s go beyond it and drag somebody to court to seek redress.

Writer’s e-mail:seth.bokpe@graphic.com.gh