Kan-Dapaah must resign over alleged torture of journalists – NDC

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding the immediate resignation of the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah following allegations that two journalists were tortured by National Security operatives.

The NDC in a statement signed by its National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi said the Minister must resign or be suspended by President Akufo-Addo to allow for a full-scale investigation into the incident.

The two journalists who work with online news portal ModernGhana.com were reportedly arrested by National Security operatives for publishing two news articles.

One of the arrested journalists, Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri (News Editor of ModernGhana.com) has in separate interviews stated that he was tortured and assaulted to admit guilt, allegations which the National Security Council Secretariate have denied.

However, the NDC says the latest is part of a worrying trend of attacks on journalists in their line of duty.

“The attack comes at a time our nation is witnessing an upsurge in repeated and consistent attacks on journalists in their line of duty. It is a sad narrative today, that the once-revered National Security of Ghana has now become a political tool for terrorizing journalists and political opponents,” the statement said.

“The attacks on press freedom, free speech and the creeping culture of silence that we are witnessing under President Akufo-Addo are a natural culmination of our collective silence over one too many attacks on journalists which have gone unpunished in recent time. To remain silent is to allow evil to triumph, to keep mute over these happenings is to encourage this sinister tide”.