Hajia Fati's lawyer apologises to Adom FM reporter

The attack on an Adom FM reporter by Hajia Fati of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is unfortunate and regrettable, Nana Obiri Boahen, a Deputy General Secretary of the party, has said.

Speaking as lawyer for Hajia Fati, Nana Obiri Boahen apologised to the journalist on behalf of his client.

Madam Fati has been accused of slapping an Adom FM journalist who was covering events at the NPP’s headquarters on Friday as the party’s suspended Second National Vice Chair, Sammy Crabbe, went to pick his nomination forms.

She allegedly slapped Ohemaa Sekyiwaa as she tried taking pictures of her at the party’s headquarters.

According to Ohemaa Sekyiwaa, Hajia Fati was infuriated at Mr Crabbe, for coming to the party's headquarters to pick nomination forms to contest in the upcoming elections. In her bid to get an interview, the embittered Hajia Fati smashed the reporter's phone and punched her mouth, accusing her of working for Mr Crabbe.

The Ghana Journalists Association has condemned the attack. “What is more worrying is that some of her attacks on journalists including Adom FM reporter’s case were launched at the NPP headquarters, giving the impression, even if erroneously, that the ruling party endorses her violence on us. The GJA is considering various options including legal action to end such impunity against journalists, which we consider to be a violent attack on press freedom,” GJA President Roland Affail Monney said at a press conference in Accra on Monday, 7 May 2018.

Speaking on Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM on Tuesday, 8 May, Mr Obiri Boahen said: “In all honesty, what happened was unfortunate, and regrettable.”

He added: “Apart from being her lawyer, we have also been friends, so, I will apologise to the journalist who was attacked and to all Ghanaian journalists. It is rather unfortunate this happened and we regret it.”