By Abdul Razak Bawa
Even though I don’t subscribe to mob justice and taking the law into ones hands, the event of last week that took place in Ashaiman, reminded me of what would have happened, if Ahmed Hussein Suale was a soldier.
One must not make excuse for their profession, everyone, wherever they find themselves have their share of contribution to nation building, no profession is better than the other, so why should justice, whichever form it comes, must only be the preserve of some professions.
The police, will go heaven and earth to find killers of any of their men, no death will go unpunished, because no hole or cradle is big enough for anybody to hide, should you harm any of their officers, especially, should a life be taken.
The military, has also shown time, without number that, you cannot touch one of them and not face their wrath. The full force and might of the military, will descend on not only the person or group of persons, who attacked one of them, but the entire community, if the need arises.
Yet, these are people who are trained to serve and protect the best interest of the nation and must be the first to uphold the law, yet they are also the first to break the law, when one of them come under attack.
Unfortunately for Ahmed Hussein Suale, his crime is that, he was neither a soldier nor policeman, but a journalist. He chose a career that cannot visit mayhem on anyone, when they are attacked but can only voice out.
As they say the pen is mightier than the sword, in this instance, the sword, has proven to be mightier than the pen.
Is being five years and counting, since Ahmed Suale, was murdered in a Hollywood style and little effort is made to apprehend his assailants.
Those of us, who have the benefit of the pen and in recent years computer, will keep reminding the government and the security agencies, especially the Ghana Police, the promise they made not only to the family of the slain journalist, but Ghanaians to bring the perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law and receive due justice reserved for evil minds like them.
Some of us, will never get tired of writing and demanding for justice for our colleague. Today it is Ahmed Suale, tomorrow, it could be me and my family, will expect that, a few men of honour left in our society, will speak up, until justice is served.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has achieved many first, under him a lot of things, albeit bad have happened and continue to happen. For the first time in the history of the Fourth republic and under a human rights lawyer, journalists are being attacked with reckless abandon, with some losing their lives.
The country’s international standing as far as human rights abuse is concern, has never been this low. We have sunk and is doing worse than countries with dictators as leaders.
This country is not worth dying for, as a sane society, would have found the killers of Ahmed Suale and erected a monument in his honor, because he had dedicated his life to exposing rot in the society.
The death of the young man, is on the conscience of all us, those who choose to speak about it once every year, during the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, must bow their heads in shame
For better emphasis, Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was an undercover investigative journalist and an associate of fellow Ghanaian investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was murdered on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, when two unidentified men on motorbikes shot him three times, twice in the chest and once in his neck in his vehicle.
Since his unfortunate murder, president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has made pledges upon pledges to find his killers. Unfortunately, all the promises, were made just to fill a vacuum or respond to yawning requests. This is because no serious attempt has been made to see to the realization of those promises.
I was of the considered opinion that, when Kennedy Agyapong, whose singular action in releasing the picture of the gentleman on his Net 2 TV, was followed with his death, said that, he will find the killers of Ahmed Suale when he became president, was another reason why president Akufo-Addo, should instruct the police to invite him, to help in finding the killers.
The family of Ahmed Suale, cannot wait for an impossibility to get justice, Kennedy Agyapong, can never become the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), let alone the president of the country, so to wait for such a time, is waiting forever and in vain.
President Akufo-Addo, can leave one lasting legacy which he will be remembered for and will immortalize him, that is to find the killers of Ahmed Suale. Ghanaians will forgive him for all his transgressions and plunging the country into this endless abyss, if only he will bring to justice all those who planned, plotted and executed Ahmed Suale like a common criminal running from lawful arrest.
To all those, who have the power and authourity to ensure that, he receives justice and are playing deaf and dumb, despite the plea of his family, remember judgement awaits all of us.
Continue to rest in perfect peace, Ahmed Suale.