Ashanti GJA condemns Kenu
The unilateral decision by the Ashanti Regional Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Daniel Kenu, to withdraw an assault case against Mr Samuel Anin Addo and Baffour Gyan, a former Black Stars player, has elicited condemnation from members of the inky fraternity in the Ashanti Region.
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Minutes after the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Circuit Court had upheld Mr Kenu’s decision to withdraw the case, the Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) came out strongly to condemn the action and that was followed by a similar show of disapproval by some radio stations.
Ashanti GJA
The Ashanti GJA described the withdrawal as “very unfortunate and a move tantamount to stabbing the association at the back. To the extent that he unilaterally took the decision is extremely baffling”.
“Mr Kenu could have done himself, his family and his profession a lot of good if he had, at least, discussed his decision with the GJA and the management of the Graphic Communications Group Limited for their input and advice,” it stated.
In a statement, it said the GJA was disgusted at Mr Kenu’s decision, especially so when Baffour Gyan did not and had still not shown remorse for his alleged barbaric and disgraceful attacks.
It said considering Mr Kenu’s stature as an experienced journalist, the GJA imagined that he could have shown appreciation for the massive and spontaneous support he garnered from all and sundry who heard, read and saw his plight at the hands of Baffour Gyan and at least consulted the GJA before his decision to withdraw the case from court.
“We see his position as sheer disrespect and betrayal of the GJA in the region. The GJA wonders whether it will be taken seriously when it decides to fight any such assault on one of its own in future.
“Media reports have already cast a slur on the integrity of Mr Kenu and the GJA and we feel very sad about it because this huge dent could have been avoided if Mr Kenu had discussed his decision,” it said.
It said much as the association shared in the pain Mr Kenu claimed to have gone through in the wake of the assault, the GJA wished to distance itself from his decision.
Mr Kenu was also the topic for discussion on almost all the radio stations in the regional capital.
Whether the discussions were on sports or politics, the hosts found a way of discussing his action on their programmes.
For instance, on Angel FM’s Weekend Sports programme, he was the main topic for discussion, during which all the panellists and callers described his action as unacceptable.
Later on the same station’s political talk show called the Platform, Mr Kenu’s action was discussed, during which it was alleged that there had been considerations for Mr Kenu’s decision other than what he had told the court.
On Sports Avenue on Luv FM, a panellist requested for Pat Thomas’s Sika ye mogya (Money is blood) song before he would utter a word.
He stridently castigated Mr Kenu for opening the floodgates for anybody to molest, beat and manhandle journalists.
He expressed shock at Mr Kenu’s decision to make an about turn without giving a hint to his Managing Director, Mr Ken Ashigbey, who had travelled from Accra to Kumasi because of the case.
He added that posterity would judge Mr Kenu.