Today Tuesday January 16, 2024 marks the fifth anniversary of the murder of Mr. Ahmed Hussein Suale Divela, a member of Tiger Eye P.I. and an investigative journalist. Ahmed Suale was shot twice in the chest and once in the neck by faceless assailants riding motorcycles, just months after the airing of an investigative documentary “Number 12: When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm,” led by the undercover investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
A statement from the United Press for Development Network (UPDN) in remembering Ahmed Suale, said it stands in solidarity with the family, friends, and colleagues of Ahmed Hussein Suale Divela five years on. Members of the group said the fearless journalist’s work had an impact on fostering transparency, accountability, and ethical journalism.
It says the tragic events of the fateful night is a stark reminder of the challenges journalists face in their pursuit of truth. The statement says the attack on Ahmed Suale echoes the broader threats against press freedom and the dangers faced by investigative journalists who strive to expose corruption and wrongdoing.
The UPDN therefore called on the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department, DCOP Faustina Kodua Andoh, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame and President Akufo-Addo to prioritize the investigation into Ahmed Suale’s murder.
The statement says Ghana, often hailed as the shining star of democratic values and free speech credentials in Africa, has seen a decline in its world press freedom ranking. It stresses the urgent need to urgently address the challenges and restore faith in the nation’s commitment to press freedom. The UPDN says urgent action must be taken to bring the perpetrators of Ahmed Suale’s murder to justice, reinforcing the values of democracy, free speech, and press freedom that Ghana has long championed on the African continent.
