Hajia Fati
Hajia Fati, the controversial activist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has unreservedly apologized to all journalists for attacking an Adom Fm reporter.
“I apologise to the leadership and rank and file of the NPP. I apologise to Sammy Awuku. I beg all journalists. What happened was a mistake. I’m here today to appeal to all pressmen to forgive me. Please, you people should forgive me since I’m on my knees,” she said on Wednesday.
She apologised after attacking an Adom FM journalist, Ohemaa Sekyiwaa at the NPP’s Headquarters on Friday, May 4.
Ohemaa Sekyiwaa, who was covering events at the NPP’s headquarters when suspended Second National Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe stormed the place to pick his nomination forms, was attacked by Hajia Fati.
GJA Intervenes
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) urged its members who are abused in the line of duty to take civil action in addition to the criminal case.
Zakariah Tanko Musah, one of the lawyers of the association, said journalists often do not take civil action against assailants.
“You can file a civil action while the criminal action is ongoing but we often do not see journalists doing this,” he said.
Lawyer Tanko Musah disclosed this while answering a question during a press conference by the association to condemn the physical attack on the Adom FM journalist.
GJA President Affail Monney, who condemned the attack on Ohemaa Sakyiwaa, said, “This is not the first time Hajia Fati has reportedly attacked a journalist. Earlier this year, she was heard in a recorded telephone conversation issuing death threats against a TV3 journalist, Kwakye Afreh Nuamah.
The GJA asked the governing party to take decisive action against Hajia Fati.
“What is more worrying is that some of her attacks on journalists, including this Adom FM reporter’s case, were launched at the NPP headquarters, giving the impression, even if erroneously, that the ruling party endorses her violence on us. The GJA is considering various options, including legal action, to end such impunity against journalists which we consider to be a violent attack on press freedom,” Mr Monney said.
Victim’s Story
Ohemaa Sakyiwaa, who was at the press conference with her managing editor, Amoadu Christian Ohene, narrated her ordeal at the headquarters of the ruling party last Friday.
“When I got there, I showed them my ID card at the reception and proceeded to interview those who came to pick the forms. During this time there was no chaos but when Sammy Crabbe came he spent a few minutes and came down again so I asked him if he had picked his form and he said he was going to get something.
Immediately he left, Hajia Fati came in angrily, saying she would not let Sammy Crabbe pick any form. Sammy Crabbe came back and there were skirmishes so I wanted to capture everything with my phone. At that time she started yelling at me that Sammy Crabbe had sent me to take a picture of her, so she snatched my phone from me and slapped my face,” Sakyiwaa added.
The journalist noted that she became confused and was escorted out of the place by party supporters.
“I called my editor and told him that I was not safe at the place and so he should send another person,” she added.
Editor of Adom FM, A.C Ohene, said, “This looks like a criminal case so we are pursuing it from that angle, and because of some damages we are also considering other avenues, including a civil suit. In all of these we are trying to follow the law.”
ASWIM Condemns Attack
The Association of Women in Media (ASWIM), in a statement signed by the interim President, Mavis Kitcher, expressed regret over the attack on the journalist in Accra.
According to ASWIM, “It is unfortunate such maltreatment of a journalist should occur in the 21st century and immediately after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day here in Ghana.”
“ASWIM has taken a strong view of the matter, and has demanded that justice be served.”
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri