A leading member of the governing NPP Gabby Otchere-Darko has revealed that during his time as an editor, the period he most feared for his life was, incidentally, under the leadership of President Kufuor’s first term.
According to him then, the threats and actual assaults which he endured as a journalist were all from opposition activists incensed by my writings and utterances.
Read his full revelation below:
As an editor of a newspaper then, the period I most feared for my life was, incidentally, under President Kufuor’s first term – the era of the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law.
Significantly, however, the threats and actual assaults which I endured as a journalist were all from opposition activists incensed by my writings and utterances.
My writings and comments were not necessarily defamatory, but mainly acerbic, like calling an opposition leader a “poodle” and spicing it up with a caricature. Those days my tongue was like a shredder! My written words could sting like jellyfish and, for some, my words could be as debilitating as necrotizing fasciitis.
For some time then Francis Poku had me under constant armed protection. I chose not to make any noise about it at all. I endured it all quietly and continued doing my work.
Yes, the era my life was under threat as a journalist was under an NPP government. But the threats and attacks I endured were from opposition elements!
How would it have been reported internationally if I had made a big deal of it? That journalists were not safe under President Kufuor? That would have been completely unfair but at least I could have been verily but mischievously cited as proof!
Thankfully, I do not remember saying many things that could easily get me into real trouble with the law. Well, there was one tricky publication of October 2003 in the paper I edited on Tony Aidoo and his immigration issues in the UK. The source of that story was authoritatively “unimpeachable.” The case had an interesting ending!
What am I trying to say? Not much. Just telling a small part of my story as a troublesome journalist. That, we must forever protect the rights of journalists to speak freely. Take it as you wish!
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
