PRESS RELEASE; MURDER OF AHMED SUALE FOUR (4) YEARS ON

Read Time: 3 minutes

PRESS RELEASE

TITLE: MURDER OF AHMED SUALE FOUR (4) YEARS ON

ISSUED BY: UNITED PRESS FOR DEVELOPMENT NETWORK (UPDN)

DATE: SUNDAY 15TH JANUARY 2023

Monday January 16, 2023 marks four (4) years since the gruesome murder of Mr. Ahmed Hussein-Suale, a member of Tiger Eye P.I., headed by celebrated and internationally acclaimed undercover investigative journalist Mr. Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Ahmed Suale was shot twice in the chest and once in the neck by some cowardly and faceless men wielding guns on the night of Wednesday, January 16, 2019, a few months after the airing of an investigative documentary titled “Number 12: When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm,” which investigated Mr. Kwasi Nyantekyi, the former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Ahmed was killed instantaneously when two individuals on a motorcycle drew up beside his car in Madina, Accra, and opened fire three times at him.

The tragic passing of the father of four children, age 33, is still recent in our memories.

Every fresh press attack makes our wound even more painful as this
irreparable pain tears at our hearts every day.

For us, the inability to put an end to this horrifying and heinous crime four years later demonstrates the unwillingness of state officials, investigators (police), and the government to bring offenders to justice (political will).

As a result, Ghana’s reputation for democracy, justice, and a free press is tarnished, as are the reputations of the president, the ruling party, and the opposition.

Our sole ray of hope comes from international organizations as long as local officials continue to show no interest in the case.

In Ghana today, being an investigative journalist or journalist is a precarious life
choice.

Investigative journalists, journalists, media stations like Erastus Asare Donkor (Luv FM) Manasseh Azure Awuni (The Fourth Estate), Kwetey Nartey (Joy News), Blessed Godsbrain Smart (Onua TV/FM), Kwabena Bobbie Ansah (Accra FM),
Oheneba Boamah Bennie (Power FM), Caleb Kudah (Citi TV), Zoe Abu-Baidoo Addo (Citi TV), Johnny Hughes (TV3), Eric Nana Gyetuah (Connect FM), Samuel Adobah (TV Africa), Benya FM, and Radio Ada among others, are still battling death
threats from crooks, government and political party sympathizers, officials, business moguls, and traditional and religious leaders for doing their legitimate work.

Journalists and undercover investigators require society to protect them, and society needs journalists and undercover investigators to look into organized crime, hold authorities and influential members of society accountable, and expose the secrets that criminals want to keep hidden.

The responsibility for building a safer environment for media professionals must be shared if we are to protect the lives of journalists and the fundamentals of democracy.

The sheer magnitude of these attacks on the press serves as a stark warning that both press freedom and Ghana’s fledgling democracy are in danger.

Where journalists in Ghana face the most danger is in the sphere of corruption exposures and local criminal governance, where criminal organizations have permeated municipal institutions in a conclusive environment.

UPDN notes that the issue of journalists’ security is not high on the government’s agenda.

The surge in attacks, intimidation, and assaults on journalists and other media workers is a grave cause of concern to us, and we are committed to taking action in the defense of journalism, one of the key pillars of democracy.

The inaction will only empower those who want to stifle free speech and weaken the ability of the populace to hold their leaders accountable, particularly by making sure that individuals in positions of authority do not obstruct the development of inclusive and open societies.

Our heartfelt condolence to the family.

Rest in Peace Soldier

Rest in Perfect Peace Ahmed Hussein-Suale

God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.

Signed
Kofi Asante Mensah
(President)
Tel: 024-469-0262
Office: 0302-965-325

National Communication Bureau

Kelvin Malor
(National Organizer)
024-599-5541

Betty Boafo
(Secretary)
024-487-0055

David Albert Quainoo
(South Korea Coordinator)
+821021174780

Eric Nana Prekoh
(Media Relations Coordinator)
024-646-0428

William Hayford Mintah
Central Region Coordinator
024-476-6538

—END—