The Director-General of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Kwesi Ofori, has debunked claims that the police are targeting journalists for arrest in a wave of actions to intimidate them.
According to him, the police’s actions are purely based on their compliance with the law.
He said the police believe that the court is the final and credible arbiter, and so people who are aggrieved or believe the police do not have the power to effect an arrest in some circumstances can sue the government.
On the Point of View show on Citi TV on Monday, DCOP Kwesi Ofori said the police have remained fair, firm, and professional in their handling of cases of arrests, not limited to journalists.
“All that we are saying is that the journalists must be responsible and make sure that things put out are information that is true and accurate. When things are done haphazardly, it creates a problem for everyone, “he said.
Within three weeks, four journalists and activists have been arrested by the police, often for allegations, they made on radio or on social media, which, according to the police, were investigated by them and found to be false.
The arrested persons include; Accra FM’s Bobie Ansah, Power FM’s Oheneba Boamah Bennie, and the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson, who were all slapped with the charge of the publication of false news and offensive conduct.
A lot of people are wondering whether Ghana has gone back to the dark days of criminal libel when many journalists were imprisoned for their work.
That’s not true, says DCOP Ofori, who says the police aren’t targeting journalists for arrest as people say they are.
“I think the police are being fair to all manner of people in this country. “When a case is lodged and it can be referred to in our criminal code, the law is there and it has not been repealed. It is not about people in authority, anybody can report that case,” he said.
The police officer said that to the extent that Section 207 and Section 208 of the Criminal Offenses Code are active and not repealed, the police have a duty to enforce them and hold those who fall foul.
Source: myghanadaily
