Gordon Asare Bediako
Broadcast journalist Gordon Asare Bediako was last Wednesday arrested by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
He was questioned over an allegation that the Special Prosecutor requested for a private jet to facilitate his work.
The five investigators demanded the source of the information, which the journalist refused to mention, following which he was granted a bail in the sum of GH¢5m and to report yesterday.
Asare-Bediako described the encounter thus: “I received a call around 12:30pm from someone claiming to be an OSP officer.” The caller requested a meeting at Asare-Bediako’s workplace, Wontumi TV or Movement TV, for what was described as a ‘mere conversation.’
Gordon said he ignored previous invitation and turned up at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
“Upon arrival, I was ushered into a room with five individuals and questioned about statements I made on Movement TV two weeks earlier.
“The remarks were allegations that the Special Prosecutor had requested a private jet from the previous government due to the high-risk nature of his role,” he disclosed.
Asare-Bediako admitted to making the statements, but insisted they were based on information he had received.
The OSP officials reportedly viewed his comments as an attack on the integrity of the Special Prosecutor, and linked them to corruption-related matters.
They demanded that Asare-Bediako reveal the source of his information, leading to a prolonged and tense encounter.
“But they insisted and it dragged for more than an hour. I was there from 2:30pm to almost 6pm …But I couldn’t provide it (my source)… So I was given a bail bond of GH¢5 million with two sureties, and they came to satisfy it, so I am out,” Asare-Bediako explained.
He expressed gratitude to the media fraternity, Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Executive, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Peter Ankomah, Kwaku Dawuro, Kweku Quarshie, Awudu Mahama and Wilberforce A. Asare.
He also mentioned Oheneba Nana Asiedu Ernest Opoku Esq, and Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, his lawyer and many others who showed solidarity with him during his arrest.
Gordon has vowed to sue the Special Prosecutor for what he described as ‘unlawful detention.’