GJA condemns assault on EIB journalist by sympathisers of Bishop Salifu Amoako

THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the assault of EIB Network court correspondent, Murtala Inusah by sympathisers of Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

A statement released by the association on Thursday, described the assault as develish and unwarranted.

"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 statement read.

"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."

The GJA further called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest the assailants and prosecute them, while urging the
Judiciary to severely punish those found guilty.

Read full statement below.

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Assault On EIB Journalist By Sympathisers Of Bishop Salifu Amoako Devilish

ACCRA, October 17, 2024 (GJA) – THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) 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.

We call 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.

The GJA urges 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….”