General News of Monday, 18 September 2006

Source: GNA

NDC condemns attack on Journalists

Accra, Sept 18. GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday condemned the attack on some journalists after covering a case at the Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) that involved Dr. Richard Anane, Transportation Minister.

A statement signed by Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, General Secretary of the NDC expressed shock about the 'unwarranted and brutal attack' on a reporter of the Enquirer newspaper.

It said the attack came soon after CHRAJ had presented its report on the investigations into allegations of abuse of office against Dr Anane.

It said, "The NDC was further dismayed at the news that after that show of lawlessness at the premises of CHRAJ, a second attempt was made at the premises of the Ministries Police Station to assault the Editor-In-Chief of the Enquirer newspaper and three other journalists" who had gone there to report the earlier assault on the Enquirer reporter.

The NDC said the 93attacks sadly to say, follows closely an earlier attack on a photographer of the Independent Newspaper when the said photographer attempted to take a photograph of one of the properties of a cocaine suspect.'

The Party said it 'condemns in no uncertain terms these callous and flagrant acts of lawlessness that are gradually creeping into our body politics, especially against media personnel going about their legitimate duties.'

It further urged all those who felt aggrieved by the activities of the media to use due process to seek redress rather than taking the law into their own hands.

Meanwhile, the NDC said it was studying the report of the CHRAJ and would in due course make an official statement on Dr Anane's case.