Veteran Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has described as wrong, the arrest of Kwabena Bobie Ansah of Accra FM on Thursday night by national security operatives in an attempt to resolve the issue of publication of falsehood proffered against him.
Describing the approach as “unsustainable”, Mr. Baako believes persons aggrieved in the matter could file a suit to clear their names.
“The State’s (Police’s) action/reaction is UNSUSTAINABLE and WRONG-HEADED in the CONTEXT of this particular case. Let those whose integrity and reputation might have been damaged by the commission and omission of the journalist, proceed on the civil libel wavelength to cure the mischief to cure and malice,” Kweku Baako said in a Facebook post on Friday.
Court documents show that the broadcaster on January 1, 2022, accused the First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and the Second Lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia of granting themselves “state lands at AU Village, around the Kotoka International Airport for the construction of [the] Rebecca Foundation”.
It said Mr. Ansah went on further to call the First Lady “a thief and that she has stolen state land around the Kotoka International Airport,” a statement he knew was “likely to occasion the breach of the peace” of the country.
Police say Bobie Ansah was invited several times to assist in investigations but failed to honour the invitations.
He was picked up shortly after his weekday programme dubbed “The Citizen Show” had ended on Thursday at about 10 p.m.
The presenter has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been granted a 50,000 bail.
Although the police say investigations are ongoing, Mr. Kweku Baako argues that such matters need no police intervention adding that aggrieved parties interested in the case can test the law.
“No need for criminal investigations or prosecution. Unless of course, there’s evidence of fraud, extortion, and criminality! No journalist (s) and/or media practitioner(s).or media house(s) has/have immunity/indemnity if and when it comes to issues of extortion, fraud, and criminality!,” Kweku Baako stressed.
SOURCE: CNR with additional files from Facebook
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