NDC damns Hajia Fati’s ‘brutal assault’ on journalist

The leadership of the National Democratic Congress says it is appalled and outraged at “the shameful and brutal assault” on journalist Ohemaa Sakyiwaa at the headquarters of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

Ohemaa Sakyiwaa, an employee of Adom FM was assaulted while engaged in lawful duty by an NPP fanatic, Hajia Fati on Friday, May 4, 2018.

A statement by the NDC, signed by its National Communications Director, Solomon Nkansah said “Hajia Fati who has become infamously notorious for unleashing violence at the NPP Headquarters attacked the harmless journalist without any provocation whatsoever.”

“The NDC condemns the assault on Miss Sakyiwaa in the strongest possible terms. Democratic Ghana which currently occupies the top spot in Africa on the Freedom of the Press index cannot continue to record such dents especially at the headquarters of the ruling party.

“We also deplore the lack of courage and decisiveness by the NPP in condemning and reprimanding Hajia Fati in a timely and sincere manner considering that the unwarranted violent conduct of their leading member took place in open glare right in front of some top executive of the NPP. This is the reason we find the use of the term "alleged" in the NPP's under pressure, belated and weak statement as most offensive and insensitive to Miss Sakyiwaa.”

The NDC asked the Ghana Police Service to urgently investigate the incident and also apprise the nation on the outcome of investigations of other recent attacks on journalists at the NPP Headquarters.

The NDC also condemned as unjustified Hajia Fati’s now famous excuse that she assaulted the journalist because she had assumed she was an onion seller.

“The NDC demands that President Akufo-Addo takes steps to stem the lawlessness, violence, bloodletting and assault on press freedom that have become synonymous to his party's headquarters.”

Below is the full statement issued by the NDC

NDC condemns attack on journalist at NPP Headquarters

The leadership of the National Democratic Congress is appalled and outraged at the shameful and brutal assault on Ohemaa Sakyiwaa, a journalist working with Adom FM of the Multimedia Group at the New Patriotic Party's Headquarters.

We note that the perpetrator - Hajia Fati who has become infamously notorious for unleashing violence at the NPP Headquarters attacked the harmless journalist without any provocation whatsoever while she was performing her lawful duties as a journalist on Friday, May 4, 2018.

The NDC condemns the assault on Miss Sakyiwaa in the strongest possible terms. Democratic Ghana which currently occupies the top spot in Africa on the Freedom of the Press index cannot continue to record such dents especially at the headquarters of the ruling party.

We also deplore the lack of courage and decisiveness by the NPP in condemning and reprimanding Hajia Fati in a timely and sincere manner considering that the unwarranted violent conduct of their leading member took place in open glare right in front of some top executive of the NPP. This is the reason we find the use of the term "alleged" in the NPP's under pressure, belated and weak statement as most offensive and insensitive to Miss Sakyiwaa.

We call on the Ghana Police Service to as a matter of urgency investigate and take immediate action on this particular matter and also apprise the nation on the outcome of investigations of other recent attacks on Journalists at the NPP Headquarters.

We wish to afford this opportunity to remind the Police that the NDC and the general public particularly the Ghanaian media fraternity is running out of patience as we await their report on Latif Iddrisu who sustained injuries at their hands when our Deputy General Secretary Koku Anyidoho was arrested.

The NDC demands that President Akufo-Addo takes steps to stem the lawlessness, violence, bloodletting and assault on press freedom that have become synonymous to his party's headquarters.

We also condemn the attempt by Hajia Fati to create the impression that our nation's hardworking onion sellers can be justifiably attacked just because they sell onions. It is shocking that any leading member of the ruling party will have such a criminal mindset towards our dynamic market women whose taxes are used to fund the creature comforts of these NPP elites.

The NDC is equally outraged that the NPP has not as at yet retracted and apologised to onion sellers and market women across the country. This is most reprehensible.

The NDC takes this opportunity to congratulate the Ghana Journalist Association and all media practitioners for their fortitude and courage in speaking up against this canker. Ghana's democratic gains cannot and will not be eroded by the actions of a few lawless elements in our society.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Miss Sakyiwaa and all victims of violent attacks against the media.

We also renew our solidarity with all onion sellers, market women and indeed the workers of our dear country.

May justice be done in this matter.

Signed,
Solomon Yaw Nkansah
National Communications Director, NDC.
[8th May, 2018]