Kan-Dapaah must resign over alleged torture of journalists - NDC

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding the immediate resignation of the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah following allegations that two journalists were tortured by National Security operatives at the weekend.

The NDC in a statement signed by its National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi and issued on Tuesday said the Minister must resign or be suspended by President Akufo-Addo to allow for a full-scale investigation into the incident.

The two journalists who work with online news portal ModernGhana.com were reportedly arrested by National Security operatives on Thursday night.

Reports suggested they were arrested in connection with the publication of two news articles but the National Security has said it was in connection with a suspected cybercrime.

One of the arrested journalists, Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri (News Editor of ModernGhana) has in separate interviews after his release from National Security custody stated that he was tortured and assaulted to admit guilt, allegations which the National Security Council Secretariat has denied.

However, the NDC says the alleged torture of the journalists is part of a worrying trend of attacks on journalists in their line of duty.

"The attack comes at a time our nation is witnessing an upsurge in repeated and consistent attacks on journalists in their line of duty. It is a sad narrative today, that the once-revered National Security of Ghana has now become a political tool for terrorizing journalists and political opponents," the statement said.

"The attacks on press freedom, free speech and the creeping culture of silence that we are witnessing under President Akufo-Addo are a natural culmination of our collective silence over one too many attacks on journalists which have gone unpunished in recent time. To remain silent is to allow evil to triumph, to keep mute over these happenings is to encourage this sinister tide".

Democracy under threat

According to the statement, Ghana's democracy is under threat in light of a string of attacks on media personnel hence the need for Ghanaians to send a message to the government that this will not be countenanced.

"The time has come to say enough is enough! The time is now for the Ghanaian people to bare our teeth at this Akufo-Addo government and send a clear message to this regime that Ghana’s democracy and our freedom of speech were won at a price, and not gifted to us on a silver platter.

"The media has always been a critical lighthouse of our democracy whose light is fast dimming under President Akufo-Addo, as Ghana’s enviable reputation of a democratic torchbearer in Africa remains under threat.

"The NDC hereby calls on Albert Kan Dapaah to immediately resign as National Security Minister or be suspended by the President, to allow for a full-scale investigation into allegations of torture of the journalists. We submit that all those found culpable must be dealt with in accordance with law".

Read the entire statement below;

Ndc Calls for Resignation or Suspension of Kan Dapaa Over Torture of Modernghana.com Journalists on Scribd