IGP urges journalists to be fearless in discharge of duties

Kumasi, Feb. 17, GNA – Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on Friday gave the assurance that his outfit would give the necessary protection to journalists in the discharge of their duties so as to consolidate the peace the nation was enjoying.
       He therefore admonished journalists to be fearless in the discharge of their duties, especially in the wake of the death of Mr Samuel Ennin, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), who was murdered in cold blood by unidentified gunmen in Kumasi last Friday.
        Mr Acheampong made the call at a press briefing in Kumasi when he attended the one-week funeral celebration of the late Ennin.
       The IGP was accompanied to the funeral by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of the Interior, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, his Deputy, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi and Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Ashanti, Mr Frank Adu-Poku.
       Among the mourners were foreign journalists as well a team of delegation of the GJA led by Mr Ransford Tetteh, the President.
       IGP Acheampong advised journalists especially radio stations to be circumspect about their reportage so as not to tamper with evidence so far gathered by the police in their investigations.
      He said this was very crucial especially in complicated cases of such nature, stressing that the police had stepped up efforts to flush out the suspected criminals behind the cruel murder of the late Ennin.
      The IGP said no matter how long investigation would take, the police was optimistic to zero-down on the culprits and commended journalists in the country for the solidarity they had shown to the deceased.
       Mr Acheampong praised the late Ennin for his dedicated service which had seen the accelerated development of the Ashanti regional branch of GJA in recent times.
       "As much as the death of Mr Ennin was a big blow to all of us, care must be taken not to read meanings into his tragic murder since this can hamper police investigations", he noted.
        The late Ennin, who was until his death the Editor of Ashh FM, a local radio station in Kumasi was gunned down by unknown assailants last Friday at a drinking spot at Pankrono Estate in Kumasi.
        The IGP was in Kumasi, among others, to inaugurate the Ashanti Regional Police Council.
GNA

17 Feb. 07