Kenu chickens out; Graphic management expresses shock
The management of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has expressed surprise at the decision of its Ashanti Regional Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Daniel Kenu, to discontinue the case in which he was allegedly assaulted by Baffour Gyan, brother of Asamoah Gyan, the captain of the Black Stars; and his errand boy, Samuel Anim Addo.
Advertisement
“The reporter has said that the decision is personal for which we do not begrudge him but we are disappointed,” a management member told the Daily Graphic.
The management said that it was unaware of Mr Kenu’s decision, adding that he had never suggested to any management member that he was going to discontinue proceedings since the case began in court.
The Corporate Communications Manager of GCGL, Mr Albert Sam, said the company had stood solidly behind Mr Kenu in the assault case in order to get the law to sanction those who thought they could take the law into their own hands and get away with it.
“The decision to support Mr Kenu was not just because he is a journalist of the company, but to send the signal out there that all journalists would solidarise with those who are assaulted during the legitimate discharge of their duties.
"That was the reason behind our decision to engage a lawyer, Dr Kofi Poku of Minkah, Premo and Co. to assist the victim to seek justice in court, although in a criminal case the state is the prosecutor. We are in discussion with our lawyers whether there are any options for the company to seek justice for Mr Kenu in particular and the journalism fraternity in general,” he added.
Mr Sam explained that the reason for management’s disappointment in Mr Kenu’s decision was because the company’s Managing Director, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, had flown to Kumasi to solidarise with the reporter, as well as to accompany him to court yesterday.
“The company’s interest lies in seeking justice against those who think they are above the law,” Mr Sam stated.
Other Trending Stories
He added that the company was yet to recover from the shock of Mr Kenu’s bombshell to discontinue the case.
Mr Sam said Mr Ashigbey met the lawyer in the company of Mr Kenu but at that meeting, Mr Kenu never mentioned that he had decided to discontinue the case, apart from indicating that he was seeing the prosecutor to go over a statement so he would not contradict himself during cross examination.
“In fact, at that meeting, Mr Kenu was busily reading a material he said was his statement to the police claiming he wanted to be familiar with it for cross-examination,” Mr Ashigbey said when reached for his comments.
“I feel completely devastated, humiliated and indeed disappointed,” Mr Ashigbey said.