[ 2017-03-17 ]

The journalist was allegedly beaten by soldiers on the independence day

Soldiers allegedly assault journalist
A freelance journalist Kendrick Offei Ansah was
alleged to have been assaulted by some military
officers for taking coverage of the officers
assaulting a civilian on the independence day.

Narrating his ordeal to Akwasi Boateng on Hot Fm's
morning show Maakye, Offei 34, said on the 6th of
March 2017, he went to the Black Star square to
cover the independence celebration and after the
ceremony, he went to a beach close to the square
where he cited three military men beating a young
man with huge sticks and PBC pipes and as such, he
decided to take a video of what was happening when
suddenly one of the soldiers approached him, took
his phone and asked him to follow them.

"One of them asked for my phone and without
arguing with him I handed the phone to him and
then they asked me to follow them to collect my
phone."

Offei said he followed them to the Osu military
camp and on getting there he was subjected to
severe beatings by over seven military officers
with the huge sticks and PBC pipes they were using
on the other guy.

"They beat me mercilessly with anything they could
find, slapping and hitting me and then one of the
soldiers said why don't we kill him like we killed
the others and throw him into the sea but for the
timely intervention of one W.O Mensah, they would
have beaten me to death."

Offei further explained that when W.O Mensah saw
what was happening, he asked what the matter was
and then ordered the soldiers to let him go but
not after his phone has been destroyed.

"He gave me two options that is either I delete
the videos or I destroy the phone. I was not happy
with that because it was an iPhone 5 and then
suddenly one of the soldiers hit my hand with his
boot which made the phone fall off my hand and
then I was given a stone to destroy it. That was
how i was able to leave that place alive."

On leaving the place Offei said he went straight
to the Osu police station to report the issue.

Contacting Inspector Bright Sackitey the CID in
charge of the case, he confirmed to Akwasi Boateng
the host of Maakye on Hot FM that, the victim came
to make a complaint about an assault and that he
followed up to the Osu military camp where it was
confirmed by W.O Mensah that such an incident had
happened.

As at now, the police do not have the statements
of these soldiers or made any arrests claiming
that the soldiers are on duty at the flagstaff
house but have given an assurance that by the
close of the day they will arrest the soldiers to
give their own side of the story.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister-designate for
Defence Major Derrick Oduro has condemned the
conduct of the soldiers referring to it as
unfortunate.

Source - Razzonline.com

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