TV Africa Crew tortured at Adjei Kojo … files complaint at NMC

TV Africa Crew tortured at Adjei Kojo

… files complaint at NMC

By Mohammed Awal

Mr. Kabral Blay Amihere, NMC boss

Mr. A.C. Ohene, the Head of News and Current Affairs at TV Africa said the News Crew of the TV station on Friday March 7th, 2014, was subjected to brutal treatment by some National Security personnel at Adjei Kojo.

A.C. Ohene said the Management of TV Africa had a distress call from the team that “it was being held by a National Security unit that had pitched camp near the demolished spot for no specified offence.”

The crew, which was headed by the Yaa Hammond, (Journalist), included Kingsley Acheampong (Camera), Suleiman Awudu (sound) and Douglas Kofi Benyin (driver), narrating their nightmare, said they were rounded up by a policeman and a soldier while they were taking camera shots at the site and marched to an outpost where about 50 police and military men were camping.

According to the crew, their camera was seized and they were ordered to remove their socks, as well as surrender their cellular phones and wrist watches.

They further noted that they were taken through indecent body searches, after which they were detained for two hours.

In a complaint to the National Media Commission (NMC) against the torturous treatment meted out to the crew, Mr. Ohene said; “a Colonel who led the harassment, by name Kofi Ahadzie, later called Yaa Hammond on phone to come for the seized camera”.

He said as the Head of News and Current Affairs , TV Africa, he led the team to go and collect the camera and also to demand for answers, the reason  why the harassment, confiscation of equipment and detention.

One Colonel Nibo and Colonel Ahadzie, who met the team agreed to release the camera, but on condition that it did not carry any audiovisuals that could be used for stories against them.

Offensive intent

The security officers answered in the negative when the Head of News and Current Affairs of TV Africa wanted to know whether it was a crime to film the flattened site.

The security personnel suspected the TV crew to be with “offensive intent”, thus the treatment they received, adding that it would have been nice if they had sought their permission before scouting for audiovisuals.

Treatment could have been worst

To ensure amicable resolution of the impasse between TV Africa and the Security personnel, the TV station said they demanded unqualified apology for the unjustifiable anxiety due to the bad treatment and seizing of camera, but the security officers counterclaimed that they rather deserved an apology.

Col. Ahadzie, according to Mr. Ohene, said that the treatment meted out to the crew was “normal treatment that is subjected to everybody under suspect, and that the body search and interrogation could have been worse or deeper."