Ghanian Soldiers Assaulted Journalist Michael Aidoo for Investigating Abandoned Government Projects

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the actions of Ghanian soldiers who assaulted journalist Michael Aidoo and have called on Ghanian authorities to launch an investigation into the incident.

Michael Aidoo.

CPJ noted that on March 5 (other sources say March 11) two soldiers at a military hospital in the country’s Ashanti region “repeatedly slapped” Aidoo, who is a member of an investigative journalism fellowship program organized by the local press freedom group Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). Aidoo had been tasked with investigating abandoned education and health sector projects across the country, including the Military Hospital project at Afari in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District, where the assault took place.

During the attack, which lasted 30 minutes, the soldiers forced Aidoo to do push-ups for taking photographs of the hospital. To make the push-ups more difficult, they placed a cement block on his waist. The soldiers also deleted the photographs and video footage that Aidoo had on his phone.

“Authorities in Ghana must hold those responsible for the March 5 attack on journalist Michael Aidoo and ensure that the press can work safely without fear of violence or censorship by security forces,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, from New York. “Far too often impunity prevails when journalists are violently attacked by those who are supposed to ensure their safety. These security officers make a mockery of the rights of the press and the people.”

MFWA has petitioned Dominic Nitiwul, Ghana’s defense minister, requesting that he order an investigation into the assault.

“We consider the assault and torture to which the soldiers subjected Michael as unjustified and clear violation of his human dignity as guaranteed under Article 15(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which stipulates that ‘The dignity of all persons shall be inviolable,” the MFWA said in its petition to the Minister.

“We demand that such impunity must not be allowed to fester, particularly in an institution known for its discipline,” the organization added.