The Techiman Circuit Court has on Tuesday acquitted and discharged t two Techiman based journalists; Awudu Iddrisu alias Mighty Judah who was the former manager and morning show host of Winners Fm and Mark Abbrey, News Editor of Techiman Times Newspaper.
Prosecution background
Detective Inspector B. M. Diboro in his prosecution on Friday 30th June, 2017 told the court presided over by His Honour Alexander Graham that, Iddrisu Awudu , on his program Monday 12th June, 2017 revealed that he knows the whereabouts of perpetrators of recent unexplained murders and disappearances of people in the Techiman Municipality and was willing to furnish the Police with the needed information if he was invited.
The prosecution continued that the same was recorded of Mark Abbrey, News Editor of Techiman Times Newspaper who did a story in that effect and published on social media (WhatsApp)
These actions by the two journalists created fear and panic amongst the people of Techiman and when they were invited by the Police to assist in apprehending the said criminals, the two could not provide any evidence whatsoever.
Article 1 (1) of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) 1994 Code of Ethics states, “the duty of every journalist is to write and report the truth bearing in mind his or duty to serve the public.”
The police subsequently took statements from the accused persons and charged them with “False publications.”
After mediations from several figures from the region (both political and media) including the Techiman police commander on behalf of the duo as well as the remorsefulness of the defendants, His Honour Alexander Graham unreservedly acquitted and discharged them.
Meanwhile, Iddrisu Awudu while facing trial at the court was issued an “indefinite suspension” letter from his employer, Hon. Alex Kyeremeh former Techiman North NDC MP and deputy minister of Education in connection with the case.
However, Mark Abbrey is still in office as the Managing Editor of Techiman Times Newspaper.
Source:ritefmonline.org
