ModernGhana issue requires government action – Amnesty International

The country director for Amnesty International Robert Akoto Amoafo has called for action following reports of alleged National Security torture of some journalists working with modern Ghana.

He said government must probe the matter to its logical conclusion and take action to redeem the image of the country.

“If what was just narrated as experience by Mr. Abugri is really true then actions must be taken. It is important that as independent people judging the matter we know exactly what happened. There are State institutions who will have to do their work and speak to the matter.

“We don’t need our President to speak on everything that happens. He has put up state institutions to take care of various issues and so we should allow them to work,” he told Francis Abban on the Morning Starrr Tuesday.

Editor of ModernGhana, Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri has recounted how he and his colleagues were detained and abused by officials of the national security.

Abugri has said that he was tortured and beaten by National Security operatives while in detention following a raid of their office and their subsequent arrest.

Mr Abugri, who was released on Saturday, 29 June 2019, said he was not spared by his captors who, he claimed took turns to hit and taser him.

However, the National Security said there was no physical abuse on the suspect.

“The National Security Council Secretariat has taken notice of reports that Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri, one of the two suspects from Modern Ghana who was arrested for engaging in cyber-crimes, has made claims of being subjected to acts of torture whilst in the custody of its officers.

“The Secretariat takes a very serious view of these claims, and wishes to state, in no uncertain terms that these allegations are false. We consider it to be a clear and deliberate attempt by the suspect to discredit the investigations and the case against him. Torture and manhandling of suspects are not part and parcel of the culture and architecture of the secretariat under the administration of President Akufo-Addo,” a statement from National Security said.