Presenters Association of the Eastern Region Condemns Assault on Eastern FM Presenter by NDC Supporters

We, the Presenters Association of the Eastern Region, a union of broadcasters in the Eastern Region unequivocally condemn the recent assault on our member Emmanuel Martey, known on radio as Nsempa Wura, by some NDC supporters at Suhum, which event happened on Thursday, 29th September, 2016.

The journalist who is the morning show host of Eastern FM in Koforidua had gone to the office of the Electoral Commission at Suhum to report on the filing of nominations of parliamentary aspirants.

According to the supporters of the National Denocratic Congress (NDC), what precipitated the ‘beating’ was that they were not happy about how the presenter treated the issue concerning the alleged ransacking of the office of the Electoral Commission at Suhum by the NDC supporters, the week before.

Nsempa Wura sustained injuries on his neck and knee in the process and even had the screen of his phone damaged.

Currently the case is with the police but we wish to acknowledge that, this is a threat to press freedom and has the tendency to muzzle the press in discharge of its duties.

We therefore require of the party leadership to render an unqualified apology to the media as regards the occurrence and plead on the general public to do away with such acts that inhibit the press from executing its task.

We also advise our members and all journalists to be wary of statements that could court antagonism from any individual or a group of people, as we hold objectivity, fairness and decorum in high esteem.

Kwame Dadzie
(Secretary, PATER)
Tel: 0244285191, 05550192331, 0242778469