Assault on journalists: Kan Dapaah must resign – Agalga

The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defense and Interior Committee, James Agalga is calling for the resignation of the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah.

The Builsa North MP said the manhandling of Modern Ghana’s editor, Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri under his watch as Minister is unacceptable.

He made these comments while addressing the press in Parliament on Tuesday.

“Modern Ghana allegedly published something against him and if it’s how he abuses power; send people to ransack their office without a search warrant, without arrest warrant…If he was unaware [of those] carried out the unlawful arrest and searches then what steps has he taken?”

“Has he interdicted some of his subordinates?” he said.

When asked whether he supports calls for the National Security Minister’s resignation, Mr. Agalga responded in the affirmative saying “It [resignation] will send a certain signal that you cannot abuse the laws of this country and get away with it no matter your status in society.”

Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri was detained alongside a fellow journalist, Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum without legal representation.

Social action group, One Ghana movement is also making similar demands for the resignation of Kan Dapaah over the issue.

The group says it will also petition the presidency over the case.

The Journalists for Business Association, the Media Foundation for West Africa and other bodies have condemned the attack on the journalists.

In an interview with Citi News, the Executive Secretary of the One Ghana Movement, Emily Nyuur, said the petition will be sent to the presidency by close of the week.

“We are asking the National Security to investigate the matter very urgently. This is our first call of action. There will be a petition that will follow to the presidency and that is for violation and attack against journalists. So that will be our next call of action. We intend to do that by close of the week,” she added.