[ 2014-10-23 ]

Daily Graphic Boss Bans Asamoah Gyan’s name and pictures from state-owned newspapers
The Editor-In-Chief of 'Daily Graphic', Kenneth
Edem Ashigbey, has taken the recent attack on one
of his reporters, Daniel Kenu, to the extreme by
powerfully banning the name and photographs of
Ghana Black Stars captain from all newspapers
published by the state-owned company,
indefinitely.

The 'Herald' gathered and indeed, observed that
for some time now, the name and images of Asamoah
Gyan alias, “Baby Jet”, have not appeared in
both the Daily Graphic and Graphic Sports as the
powerful Ken Ashigbey, has pitifully banned them
over the brutality suffered by the Graphic’s
reporter from Baffuor Gyan, senior brother of the
senior national team captain.

Even, when Asamoah Gyan, scores a goal for the
Black Stars, his name does not appear in the
newspapers as a result of the strict orders of Mr.
Ashigbey, the Managing Director of the Graphic
Communications Group Limited.

The decision, has left some staff wondering about
the source of Mr. Ashigbey’s arrogant powers,
while many others also tell 'The Herald' that the
decision to ban the Ghanaian captain from the
newspapers, is a confirmation that management of
the state-own company, has significantly
deteriorated, since Mr. Ashigbey’s appointment.

For instance, when the senior national team played
and defeated their Guinean counterpart; Syli
Nationale, the Ghanaian captain’s name and image
did not appear in the Thursday 16, edition of the
Daily Graphic, despite brilliant performance and a
goal in Tamale, the previous day.

Apart from the Daily Graphic, the Graphic
Communications Group Limited owns the Graphic
Sports, Mirror, Graphic Business, as well as
Junior Graphic, and none of the above mentioned
his name or used his image.

Additionally, 'The Herald' is informed that the
Managing Director, has blacklisted Daniel Kenu by
ensuring that his name is not associated with the
Graphic Communications Group Limited. Insiders
told this paper that currently, the Kumasi-based
reporter, writes stories for the Daily Graphic,
but he is not acknowledged as the author of those
stories.

Mr. Ashigbey, is said to have practically
interdicted Mr. Kenu and consequently set up an
internal committee to investigate the Ashanti
Regional reporter to unravel the circumstances
behind his withdrawal of the assault case against
Baffour Gyan and his goons.

Inside the offices of the Daily Graphic, are
unsubstantiated claims that Mr. Kenu, collected a
whopping US$75,000 from the Gyan family, hence his
unceremonial withdrawal of the case without first
notifying Ken Ashigbey, who have taken the
newspaper’s fight against Baffour Gyan and his
goons, rather personal.

Sources within Graphic Communications Group Ltd,
have hinted The Herald that the Mr. Ashigbey-led
management felt letdown by the reporter, having
rallied a nationwide support for him at the time
of the incident.

The Herald is informed that Daniel Kenu, has since
submitted a report from a clinical psychologist
detailing the hypertensive-related stress he was
going through when the attack occurred and why he
had to stop pursuing the case to save his life and
that of his aged and ailing mother.

But the decision to ban names and images of
Asamoah Gyan and his brother, The Herald gathered
was a one-man decision taken by the Mr. Ashigbey,
after his nationwide call on Ghanaian journalists
to boycott a planned press conference organized by
the Gyan brothers through their lawyer, a couple
of weeks ago, which was ignored.

The Graphic boss on his Facebook page on Tuesday,
September 23, had written: “I will urge all
journalists to boycott this press conference.
People who assault journalists want us to cover
them.”

According to him it will be a “sin against all
who have died in the cause of duty and all who are
still being assaulted. I urge all Ghanaian
Journalist & Media persons & house once in our
live to stand for what is right.”

Interestingly, the victim, Daniel Kenu, surprised
his boss and many, when he dropped the assault
charges against Baffour, citing health and
personal reasons, including the sudden death of
his uncle, who had earlier, prevailed upon him not
to drag the Kenu family name in the mud by going
ahead with the assault case against the
ex-footballer and his thugs in Kumasi.

Mr. Kenu, was attacked after a press conference in
Kumasi, for demanding whether Asamoah Gyan, had
used ace-Ghanaian musician, “Castro”, for
rituals to boost his football career.

The artist and his girlfriend, Janet, mysteriously
went missing at Ada, while jet skiing on Volta
River in July, this year.

Meanwhile, the committee set up by the management
of Graphic to investigate Mr. Kenu is to among
other things establish if the reporter, has
breached the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
on whether unilateral withdrawal of the assault
case without recourse to management was
justified.

It was said that management had written to him to
consult it before taking any action on the matter,
while a lawyer was appointed to assist him on any
move he intended to take regarding the case.

Also, the committee would also establish the issue
of misconduct, indiscipline, disloyalty, as well
as an alleged embarrassment caused the Managing
Director, Mr. Ashigbey and the company as a
whole.

Source - The Herald

... go Back