Affail Monney Calls For Huge Compensation For Latif Iddrisu Over Assault

Former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Affail Monney, has made a strong appeal for substantial compensation to be made to multimedia journalist, Latif Iddrisu, over what he describes as a brutal assault he suffered in the hands of some supporters believed to be from the camp of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during coverage of the arrest of the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Latif suffered the attack on Tuesday, May 27 at the premises of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Speaking on the incident that has reignited public discourse around brutality against journalists in their line of duty and press freedom, Mr. Monney described the attack on Latif as “a dark stain on the conscience of the nation” and called for justice that goes beyond mere words.

“The NPP should be prepared to pay adequate compensation to Latif Iddrisu. This would go a long way to mitigate the suffering he has endured, a pure act of impunity. If impunity is not dealt with decisively, it ignites a self-propelling cycle which makes it very difficult to manage. We expect our police system to deal with such issues at supersonic speed. When cases reach the courts, we expect justice to be served expeditiously” Mr. Monney insisted.

Also, the Africa Development Council (ADC) in a statement has condemned the attack, describing it as “dastardly” and stressed that the perpetrators must be brought to justice without delay.

It urged the Ghana Police Service to act swiftly and decisively, noting that the individuals responsible should already be behind bars.

“The law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, must be proactive. The perpetrators of this dastardly act must be brought to book,” the release emphasised.

The ADC reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to promoting good governance, transparency, accountability, and industrial development in Ghana.

It also issued a direct appeal to President John Mahama to intervene, urging him to ensure that the police take immediate action.

“We appeal to the President of the Republic to, as a matter of urgency, direct the Police to do the needful regarding this assault case,” the Council stated.

However, the Council added that it should not take presidential intervention for justice to be served, stating that the Inspector General of Police must act independently and uphold the rule of law.

“No citizen is above the law. Any attempt to derail the country’s economic progress and goodwill simply because officials are being held accountable must be nipped in the bud,” the ADC warned.

The Council reminded public officials that power is temporary and insisted that everyone serving in public office must be ready to answer for their stewardship.

Meanwhile, Joy News in a statement indicated that, Latif was “struck on the head by some of the attackers, with others reportedly using a stone and a rubber band as weapons. This assault on a journalist in the line of duty is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Journalists serve the public interest by reporting events as they unfold. Any attempt to obstruct or intimidate them is not only an attack on press freedom but also a threat to democracy itself.

The statement further added, “The matter has been reported to the police, and we call for a swift investigation and the prosecution of those responsible. We acknowledge the apology rendered by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and expect the party to fully cooperate with the police in bringing the perpetrators to justice.”