The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) northern region chapter is demanding full scale police enquiry into circumstances that preceded the alleged assault of the Northern Region Reporter of TV Africa over the weekend in Tamale.
The journalist was in Changli, a suburb of the Tamale metropolis to cover violent disturbances of between armed personnel of the Ghana Police Service and residents of the community.
Dozens of armed police men raided the Changli community at dawn last Saturday amidst firing gunshots allegedly in the air to arrest suspects who had allegedly attacked a police woman few days back when she and other officers went into the community to arrest a suspect.
However, the TV Africa journalist, Mr. Baba Kamil was at the scene interviewing some residents on the issue and in the event he was allegedly hit at the head by a stray object suspected to be a bullet, which allegedly came from the direction of the police, who were allegedly firing shots in the area.
Consequent to that, the 2019 Journalist of the Year, northern region, sustained injuries on the head and was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) where he was treated and discharged.
Meanwhile, the Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Kwabena Otuo Acheampong in a statement over the weekend said investigations was underway on the alleged shooting of the TV Africa Journalist by armed police officers in the region.
He, however, appealed to eyewitnesses to help the police with relevant information to assist the investigations
Below is the full statement of the GJA
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE NORTHERN REGIONAL TV AFRICA REPORTER’S INJURY
Demand for investigation into assault on the Northern Regional Correspondent of TV Africa
On Saturday dawn, April 18, there was an incident at Changli, a suburb of Tamale. It is understood that personnel from the Northern Regional Police Command raided Changli, which brought about disturbances in the area.
Mr Baba Kamil, the Northern Regional Correspondent of TV Africa was at the scene interviewing some residents on the issue. However, he was hit at the head by an object, which allegedly came from the direction of the police, who were firing shots in the area. Mr Kamil, who sustained injuries on the head, rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) where he was treated and discharged.
It is unfortunate and sad for a journalist to be injured in line of duty, and this must be condemned by all.
The Northern Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) therefore, calls on the Northern Regional Police Command to conduct a full scale investigation into the assault on Mr Kamil to establish its cause.
The GJA commends health professionals at TTH for the timely and smart manner they attended to the reporter when he rushed there.
The GJA also entreats all journalists in the region not to be disturbed or discouraged by the incident but to remain bold to continue with their good works.
Signed
For CHAIRMAN
Yakubu Abdul-Majeed
Vice Chairman
