Anas calls on Gov’t to condemn open death threats to Manasseh Azure, other journalists

A private investigative agency, Tiger Eye PI, has joined many to condemn threats and attacks meted out to journalists in pursuit of their work.

The team has called on authorities for the protection of Manasseh Azure Awuni, Edward Adeti, EIB Network;  Afia Pokuah, UTV; Abdul Hayi Moomen, GTV, and others who have either been threatened with death, violence and/or intimidation.

The investigative body, in a statement signed by its CEO, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, said: “these acts which smack of barbarism and backwardness are disturbing and have to be condemned by all.”

He argued that such anonymous and open threats when not dealt with breed impunity.

The team’s concerns follow a recent death threat sent via mail to investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni following his article on the Electoral Commission election brouhaha.

The article was headlined, ‘ERRORtoral Commission and Akufo-Addo’s coup d’état’, discussed the anomalies with the Techiman South parliamentary results and the denial of the people of Santrokfi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL) areas.

This is not the first time the award-winning journalist has received death threats.

In 2017, he reported a death threat to the CID Headquarters, which was referred to the Cyber Security Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

That threat was in the form of a text message.

Following the death threat, Manasseh had to temporarily relocate to South Africa in 2019.

The woes of the investigative journalist, whose work has exposed grand corruption in government is far from over as he has been hit with a new one.

But theghanareport.com investigative journalist said despite threats against his life, he won’t relent in his fight against corruption.

The anti-corruption journalist said if one’s personal safety is prioritised over the country’s progress, nothing will get done by the people and everyone would ultimately suffer the consequences.

“I will do what is right and trust God to protect me,” he said in an earlier interview after the threat.

In recent times, some journalists have complained about the rising state of fear and insecurity, especially after the murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale of the Tiger Eye investigations.

Ahmed Suale had been threatened by the Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.

The legislator had put the undercover journalist’s photograph on television and disclosed that he lived in Madina.

He then ordered whoever saw him [Ahmed Suale] to attack him and that he [Kennedy Agyapong] would pay.

Ahmed Suale was shot dead on January 16, 2019, in Madina near his home.

No arrest has been made almost two years later.

In light of recent events, Tiger Eye PI, has urged the government to condemn these threats and careless utterances, be it from a lawmaker, a government official or opposition groups.

It also tasked the security agencies to investigate the sources of death threats and arrests the perpetrators.

Adding its voice, the Ghana Journalists Association said the latest death notice served on Manasseh via email is poisonous enough to snuff life.

The association said such barbaric contemplation, machination, orchestration, plot and scheme, whether individually inspired or collectively conspired, to kill a journalist for discharging a lawful mandate guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution was not good for the country’s democracy.