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Report by Francis MENSAH (Adwenpa-Hene)
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 to film 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.
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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 the 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 catching 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 several times, drag me into their car with the other gentleman, and drive downward. 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 seize about 16 cars, particularly taxis, that had entered the country without proper documentation (Togo Cars).
The commanding officer asked for 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 information, including my crucial documents that I will need to complete several correspondences. 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 the 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 for GH5000.00 and was asked to report the next day at noon. I requested my SIM card and a medical form to seek medical attention, and they were given to me. I was treated and discharged the 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 at the hands of the military officers.
I wish to thank all my sympathizers and ask them to remain calm as we work together to ensure that Ghana becomes a fully civilized democratic country.
The intimidation does not perturb me, but rather strengthened and hardened by their actions to give my best to Mother Ghana.
The intimidation citizens experience in all walks of life has killed advocacy, patriotism, and innovative ways to bring about the needed development we seek as a country.
Nevertheless, God will always, at some point, have someone to speak to power and authority within the confines of the laws to bring sanity and confidence to the citizenry.
Finally, I wish to ask the Customs Excise and Preventive Officers: were the operations in the interest of the Republic as we anticipated?
I challenge the CEPs and their operational team to publish all the 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 being the mouthpiece of the voiceless and advocating for a true democracy.
Signed :
Nicholas Morkah
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