October 17, 2024 (GJA) – THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) says that it considers as devilish the assault of
EIB Network court correspondent by sympathisers of Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako on Wednesday, October 16,
2024. The unwarranted attack by the hooligans left Murtala Inusah, the EIB Netowrk Legal Affairs Correspondent,
with cuts on his fingers and severe bodily pain.
The GJA is also informed that a police court warrant officer who went to the aid of the journalist was assaulted by
the hooligans and “we condemn same in no uncertain terms”, GJA stated yesterday.
The GJA called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest the assailants and prosecute them, while urging
the Judiciary to severely punish them when found guilty.
Murtala Inusah has reported the assault case at the Ministries Police Station, having submitted the requisite
documents and we urge the police to act swiftly on the case.
The founder and leader of the Alive Chapel International, Bishop Salifu Amoako, and his wife, Mouha, were
arraigned on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in connection with an accident case at East Legon last Saturday
involving their 16-year-old son that resulted in the death of two persons.
While covering the case at the Circuit Court in Accra, Murtala Inusah, an accredited member of the Judicial Press
Corps, who was tagged in his accredited ID Card from the Judicial Service, was attacked by sympathisers of the
suspects who were apparently not happy with the journalist filming the proceedings.
In the wake of the attack, Murtala Inusah lost his mobile phone and good health.
“We consider the assault on the journalist and police officer performing their official duties as a devilish act and the
hooligans must be severely dealt with according to law,” a presss statement yesterday signed by Kofi Yeboah,
General Secretary of GJA, stated.
The GJA urged media practitioners not to be intimidated by such callous acts and continue to discharge their
professional and constitutional mandate.
“In fact, the media must give this case the biggest publicity it deserves and we must throng the court at the next
schedule on October 30, 2024, to tell the story in honour of the people’s right to know. We appeal to the Judicial
Service and the Police to give maximum security to journalists who report from the courts, as they endeavour to
render an invaluable service to the nation.
“The GJA believes the sympathisers of Bishop Salifu Amoako are Christians, and in that belief, we advise them to
resort to godly or spiritual means of addressing their concerns, not forgetting the scriptural injunction in 2
Corinthians 10:4 – “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal….”
“We also urge them to look unto Jesus (the author and finisher of the Christian faith), who frowned on violence in
the face of arrest and prosecution by rebuking Peter for cutting the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest,
and commanded him to put his sword back into its sheath (John 18:10-11).
“Meanwhile, the GJA admonishes the media to exercise maximum circumspection in the coverage of the case
involving the family of Bishop Salifu Amoako, particularly the ethical demands surrounding their teenage son at the
centre of the case. In line with the GJA Code of Ethics 2017 and the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), which defines a
child as a person below the age of 18, the media must avoid disclosing the identity (by name or picture) of the
teenage suspect or do anything that may affect his best interest as a child. According to Article 19 of the GJA Code
of Ethics, “A journalist protects the rights of minors, and in criminal and other cases, secures the consent of parents
or guardians before interviewing or photographing them”.
Section 2(1) of the Children’s Act provides:
“The best interest of the child shall be paramount in any matter concerning a child”, while Section 2(2) also
provides:
“The best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration of any court, person, institution or other body in
any matter concerned with a child”,” the statement said.
The GJA urged members of the general public to exercise maximum restraint and tolerance, especially as we draw
closer to Election 2024, in respect of the work of media practitioners.
“We should bear in mind that the work of the media is mainly in the interest of the people of Ghana on whose behalf
they discharge such mandate per the 1992 Constitution,” the statement said
UPDN CONDEMNS ATTACK ON EIB NETWORK JOURNALIST AND CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION*
Meanwhile the United Press for Development Network (UPDN) has also unequivocally condemned the violent
attack on Mr. Murtala Inusah, Legal Affairs Correspondent for the EIB Network, by supporters of Bishop Elisha
Salifu Amoako at the High Court in Accra.
UPDN stated that this brazen assault on a journalist within a court’s premises is not only a direct attack on press
freedom but also raises grave concerns about the state of security in our judicial institutions.
“We express our deepest solidarity with Mr. Inusah, who sustained injuries, including multiple cuts on his wrist, and
also lost his personal belongings while lawfully performing his duties as a journalist. It is unacceptable that
individuals resort to violence in an attempt to stifle media coverage, especially within a space that symbolizes the
rule of law and justice.
“The UPDN is gravely concerned about the glaring security lapses that allowed such an incident to occur at the heart
of our justice system. It is alarming that members of the public could engage in violent acts, leading to bodily harm
and theft, without immediate intervention from security personnel.
“This unfortunate incident undermines public trust in the ability of the judiciary to safeguard all persons, including
journalists, within its premises.
*We demand the following:*
1. Immediate arrest and swift prosecution of all individuals involved in the attack.
2. A thorough investigation into the security lapses at the High Court, with clear steps outlined to prevent future
occurrences.
3. Stricter enforcement of security protocols in all court facilities to guarantee the safety of journalists, court
officials, and the general public.
4. Assurances from the Ghana Police Service that journalists will be protected while discharging their professional
duties, as enshrined under Article 162(4) of the 1992 Constitution.
Journalists play a crucial role in informing the public and holding institutions accountable, and any attempt to
intimidate them threatens the very foundation of democracy. The attack on Mr. Inusah is an attack on all media
practitioners, and it cannot be tolerated under any circumstance.
The UPDN will continue to monitor developments closely and offer the necessary support to Mr. Inusah and other
affected journalists. We also urge all media houses and stakeholders to unite in ensuring that press freedom in Ghana
is protected at all costs.
“The UPDN stands firm: Violence against journalists has no place in Ghana. We call on the authorities to act
decisively – justice must not be delayed or denied,” the statement concluded.
It was signed by Kelvin Malor as National Organizer, David Albert Quainoo as South Korea Coordinator, Betty
Boafo as Secretary, Eric Nana Prekoh as Media Relations Coordinator, William Hayford Mintah as
Central Region Coordinator, Frank Darlington Heymann as International Relations Coordinator and Kofi Asante
Mensah as President.
