Adam: Murder of Ghanaian journalist a black mark for a model African democracy

In this photo taken Friday, Jan. 18, mourners bury the body of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, investigative journalist, who was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike on Wednesday night, in Accra, Ghana. AP Photo / AP

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Ghana is supposed to be a model of democracy and rule of law in Africa, but the assassination of an investigative reporter who helped uncover massive corruption in African soccer has given the country a black eye from which it will take years to recover.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot three times, two weeks ago near his home in the capital, Accra, by unknown attackers still at large. Recognized as having the freest press in Africa, Ghana now has the dubious honour of being home to the first journalist killed in 2019. Suale’s targeted killing is the latest in a regrettable trend that saw more than 50 journalists, notably the high-profile Saudi Arabian, Jamal Khashoggi, murdered last year.

Suale’s targeted killing has unleashed shock waves and condemnation around the world – and rightly so.

The killing has sent a chill through Ghanaian journalism because even in the darkest days of military dictatorship, journalists were not shot in the streets. For this to happen under a democratic government calls into question the country’s commitment to a free press. Now, more than ever, Ghanaian journalists need the support of colleagues everywhere.

What makes the killing even more outrageous is that it happened months after a prominent government MP. Kennedy Agyapong, went on television to incite violence against the reporter, even promising a financial reward for his assailants. Agyapong not only revealed the identity of the reporter, who works undercover, but told viewers where he lived. “I am telling you, beat him,” Agyapong said, pointing to Suale’s image. “Whatever happens, I’ll pay. He is bad, that Ahmed.”


The reporter’s crime? A riveting expose on bribery in African football that led to a lifetime FIFA ban on the president of the Ghana Football Association and the ouster in disgrace of several coaches, referees and game officials around the continent. Suale complained to the Committee to Protect Journalists that he began receiving threats after he was outed on television, and feared for his life.

Many Ghanaians, including the official opposition, believe Agyapong is culpable, citing his threats on TV. The MP, however, has strenuously denied any involvement in the killing, saying he has no reason to do so. Still, in a television interview, Agyapong offered no regrets for exposing the journalist and demanding that he be assaulted. He said he only called for Suale’s beating if the reporter ever showed up on his property.

What has shocked people is that in a country that purports to uphold the rule of law, a legislator can go on television and call for the assault of a journalist and nobody raises a finger. No government official took him to task for the incitement. Anywhere else but Ghana, this MP would have faced charges for inciting violence. This would have sent a strong message that the authorities would not tolerate such violence and, who knows, Suale’s killers might not have been emboldened to take his life.

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo has condemned the killing and called for swift police action to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. That’s good, but the government needs to do more to protect journalists, because they are under siege in Ghana. Constitutional guarantees of press freedom appear to be a paper tiger. A media advocacy group, the United Press for Development Network, says there were 31 attacks on journalists last year. They have been harassed, attacked and assaulted across the country for no crime other than doing their jobs.

For instance, a reporter was injured after being punched by a bodyguard of former president John Mahama during a campaign appearance. A ruling party official beat up another reporter while on the job at party headquarters. Still another reporter ended up in hospital with a fractured skull after being viciously beaten at police headquarters by officers.

What’s fuelling these attacks is the cavalier attitude of the authorities towards violence against journalists. There is no consequence for beating up journalists and so it keeps going on. Now a brave reporter is dead.

The government not only needs to send a clear message that journalists are not the enemy, but enforce the law against their attackers. It needs to do that to begin to salvage Ghana’s now battered image.

 Mohammed Adam is an Ottawa writer.


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