By Abdul Razak Bawa
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller’s lines, written just after the Holocaust, argued against apathy—and for the moral connectedness of all people.
These words are a reference to the Holocaust. It is also; however, a warning about the ease with which such an event could occur again, if we of the present allow ourselves to become ignorant of the lessons of the past.
I have decided to visit this subject, which involves the senseless and unprovoked shooting to death of an individual, who is one of us, because I was at the Madina cemetery over the weekend.
I had gone there to visit the grave of my father, who went the way of all mortals on January 10, this year.
When I was done with the visit and was leaving, one of the attendants at the cemetery for whatever reason, pointed to a grave and said, do I know the person, who is lying here, I said, no and he said that was Anas’s boy, Ahmed Hussein Suale.
I stood there for a while, prayed for him and before I could leave, I asked myself, why his assailants are still at large?
It has been three years since Ahmed Hussein was killed in a Hollywood movie style, his murder is a sharp reminder of the many horrible memories of crimes around the nation which still remain unresolved.
Ahmed Suale’s case is even more blood-chilling, because this was a journalist who had dedicated his life to the service of his country.
His murder which till today, seems to have been added to the long list of unresolved murders, exposes the gruesome danger journalists, face in a country that has lost its soul.
Some things happen that make you wonder if you are still in Ghana or in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, where it is said that some animals are more equal than others.
In order for a murder to be resolved, one must belong to a certain group. Ghana has become an Animal Farm, where some are more equal than others. If you want to know that, justice has a meaning in this country, go for a Policeman or an officer of the law. No matter where you to run to or hide, they will hunt you down.
The Ghana police not only have the capability, but has the capacity to solved any murder provided they intend to, that is anyone who dares touch one of their own, will feel the full force of the service.
The most recent case that comes to mind is shooting to death of Constable Emmanuel Osei in a bullion van robbery that shook the whole nation. Not only was the perpetrators arrested but have also been summarily convicted, at least that is the thinking of their families.
The Ghana Police service is duty bound to ensure that those who commit crimes against media workers and, any other segment of the society, are brought to book to stem the reign of impunity.
It is really a nightmare to imagine the pain, fear and helplessness the family of the slain journalist is going through.
A murder case such as this ought not to drag unnecessarily, especially so, when the person was an asset to the country. His crime was that he was a journalist and not an arm-chair journalist, but one who dug deep and took risk just so he can leave a better country for his children and childrens children.
I am pleading with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare, to ensure that this particular killing is thoroughly investigated and the culprit and his assailants brought to justice.
This case must not go the way of other cases in the past. It must never die on the ground of still investigating. That will be greater injustice to not only Ahmed Hussein Suale, but also to Ghanaian journalists and humanity.
We all have a duty as journalists to keep reminding the government and the security service to get justice for our brother. Today it is Ahmed Suale, tomorrow it could be any one of us. We cannot afford in good conscience to forget our brother as though he deserved what he got, he does not. He lies in his grave hoping that, we will not forget about him and that we will keep talking and writing until the day, his assailants will be brought to justice.
His family equally deserves a closure. They have spoken, cursed, begged and prayed that their kinsman will get justice. They have done what they could, in the hope that, one day and soon, they will be at peace, knowing those who took their family member away in a gruesome way, is paying for their crime.
Finally, a nation that does not prioritise the safety of journalists and other media workers can be regarded as a sick nation. A free and open society is the bedrock of development and only a positive disposition to the media can engender such process.
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