Information Ministry condemns attack on Benya FM presenter …suspect arrested
The Ministry of Information has condemned the assault on Benya FM presenter, Osofo Blessing, by unnamed men, during an on-air programme, last Monday.
The ministry, has, therefore, called on the District Police Command to promptly investigate and prosecute the alleged perpetrators.
A statement issued by the ministry, in Accra, yesterday, said the action by the thugs was unnecessary and without justification.
“The Ministry of Information condemns the reported assault in no uncertain terms and urges the police to promptly investigate and prosecute the alleged perpetrators accordingly,” the ministry said.
It noted that the attack on the broadcaster was unacceptable and that “there is no justification whatsoever for a broadcaster to be assaulted simply for doing his work.”
Some unknown men attacked Blessing, a presenter of Benya FM, in Elmina, when the radio station was discussing the issue of non-availability of premix fuel, and how people who were not fishermen were given the product, to the detriment of fishers, who needed it.
The statement said Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has spoken to the manager of the radio station and the District Police Commander, both of whom were working together to investigate the incident and ensure that the suspects were brought to book.
Meanwhile, David O Yarboi-Tetteh, reports from Cape Coast that the Central Regional Police Command has arrested Opare Aikins, also known as Gyakye, in connection with assault on the presenter, and the police were on a man hunt for two other accomplices on the run.
The Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Irene Oppong, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect upon interrogation admitted the offence and said he went to the station with two other people.
The Police PRO said the suspect indicated that he and the other two, went to the radio station to confront the complainant, Eric Blessings Eshun, the presenter, for mentioning their names on radio.
DSP Oppong said the suspect narrated that the radio presenter accused them (suspect and accomplice) of not owning canoes but receiving premix fuel meant for fishermen at Elmina.
Speaking to the Ghanaian Times, Eshun said, the three persons subjected him to beatings and vandalizsd equipment at the radio station.
The broadcaster said he visited the premix distribution centre on Monday to ascertain complaints made by some people regarding the sale of premix to fishermen.
Mr Eshun said that on Monday, he visited premix fuel sale point to ascertain the allegation that premix fuel was being sold to political party supporters, who resell the product at exorbitant price to fishermen.
He said there was disagreement at the sale point, which resulted in a halt to the sale of the product for some time.
Mr Eshun said that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), Solomon Appiah, was at the point of sale of the product to ensure that calm returned.
The broadcaster said on Monday (7pm to 8:30 pm), he hosted a programme at the radio station, and commended the MCE for ensuring peace at the premix fuel station, at Elmina, and called on political party activists not to buy the premix fuel, which was meant for fishermen.
BY TIMES REPORTER
