Amina Bala-Zakari – INEC’s big albatross

Elections are just a few weeks away and the Independent National Electoral Commission; INEC appears to be doing the right things. They have issued an election timetable, electoral guidelines and told us who would be responsible for doing what at their own level. Just last week, they gave us a census of who is who in the presidential election. This is as it should be in an electoral year and the Mahmoud Yakubu led organization deserves nothing but our support and, in a religious albeit ungodly nation – our prayers.

Unfortunately, in the course of releasing all the details, INEC’s efforts at transparency rubbed some people badly. The appointment of Ms. Amina Bala-Zakari as head of the collation team has raised the expected dust that would not settle. While her qualification for that appointment could not be faulted, allegations of her relationship with President Buhari is at least unsettling. Her explanations did not clear the air at all as one of her colleagues had already addressed this issue in the past. Ordinarily, her appointment ought to make us happy – she is a sister and a mother with an awesome track record in public service.

Whether the said relationship is by consanguinity or affinity, it should be addressed firmly, fairly and undoubtedly. This type of bias jeopardizes the credibility of the electoral process and calls to question the partiality of an umpire and the credulity of the eventual outcome. In such a situation, there are two ways out – reassignment by the office or personal recuse of the assigned.

In Ms. Bala-Zakari’s shoes, I’ll step down, not out of fear or heckling, but to clear any doubts and preserve the operational and corporate integrity of the organization. Stepping aside in the face of perceived conflict of interest is not admission of guilt; it is the sacrifice citizens owe their country’s march to a flawless democratic process. The ball is still in Ms. Bala-Zakari’s court.

Requiem for Ahmed Hussein Suale –Divela

Last Wednesday morning in Accra, two unidentified persons ambushed an investigative journalist, pumped bullets into him and left him lifeless. Ahmed Hussein Suale Divela, until his death, was working with the Tiger Eye Private Investigations, an outlet led by the unbeatable Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

One of late Divela’s rippling report was an expose on corruption in African soccer that led to a shakeup in the Ghanaian football house and beyond. Divela’s cover was blown and Kennedy Agyapong a member of the Ghanaian parliament ordered whoever comes into contact with him to beat him up promising that “Whatever happens, I’ll pay because he is bad.” In a television reaction, he had reportedly made a sign reminiscent of slitting of throat to whoever finds the late reporter. It was the height of verbal recklessness.

Although Agyapong, who represents Assin Central constituency and owns the private Net 2 TV strongly denies having a hand in Divela’s death, he has not denied his statements even in the aftermath of the journalist’s death. Indeed as a senior citizen, his attempt at exonerating himself displays his lack of tact. He had described Divela as ‘nothing to me’ and confirmed that he had ordered him to be beaten if he was seen around his business premises for fear that the investigative journalist ‘might come and set up secret cameras’ in his office.

This is rather shameful. President Nana Addo says he ‘expects the police to bring Ahmed’s killers to book’. Anas Aremeyaw, whose unprecedented expose on corruption in Ghana and other parts of Africa vows to fight on. Global media watchdogs have issued statements of solidarity and condemnation.

It is sad that while investigative journalists are compensated in other climes, in Africa, they are murdered. This shows that corruption remains the biggest money-spinning machine of the ruling class for which they’ll spare nothing to see continue.

As is in Ghana, so it is in other climes. Foremost Nigerian journalist, Dele Giwa was murdered in 1986 for unbiased reporting. Bagauda Kaltho was murdered in Kaduna for his opposition to military rule. Both Dapo Olorunyomi, Alex Kabba and several others fled Abacha’s killer squads. Unknown assassins killed Godwin Agbroko, a dogged and fearless journalist.

Ahmed Salkida lives one day at a time for his continued expose on Boko Haram and successive Nigerian government’s incapacity to protect the people against the onslaught. Jaafar Jaafar had to go into hiding with his family after exposing alleged corruption against Governor Ganduje of Kano State. Samuel Ogundipe, a Premium Times reporter was detained and tortured by the police while Jones Abiri was detained for two years without trial.

Every threat against investigative journalism and journalists is a threat to the democratic space. There can be no development where journalists and whistle blowers fear for their lives. Ghanaian authorities must spare nothing in fishing out Duvale’s killers.

Agyapong has more explanations to make that should teach people a lesson in how not to wish other people dead because we disagree with them. Without interfering in the Ghanaian judicial process, this man should be made to pay for his bucal diarrhea. If no effort is made to make this lawmaker account for his hate speech, others would copy him and society would be reduced to nothing but a jungle. Duvela’s soul cannot find a peaceful rest until all those involved in his assassination are found and made to face the full wrath of the law.

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