On The Alleged Torture Of Two Modern Ghana Editors

We have been told that, some two journalists belonging to modernGhana, an online portal have jointly been tortured concerning an arrest effected by National security operatives. Both Mr Emmanuel Ajarfo Abugri and Mr Britwum were all picked up for alleged engagement in cyber crime connected to hacking other online portals for "feed" on to their website.

On Tuesday, 2nd July,2019, Mr Emmanuel Ajarfo Abugri was interviewed on peacefm during the 6oclock news in the evening. Whoever listened to the news couldn't believe his ears in respect of certain things Mr. Emmanuel Ajarfo Abugri admitted on air which is a public record. One shocking admission was that, one of the guys they employed as editor who was formally with peacefm actually gave peacefm's online portal password to modern Ghana editors.

I am not an I.T student neither am I a computer science student but one basic crime related to technology is hacking. Hacking is an attempt to exploit a particular computer system or a private network inside a computer. Simply put, it is the unauthorised access to or control over computer network security systems for some illicit purpose.

It is also trite knowledge that, when a software is manufactured, it is the password that gives some unscrupulous people the unfettered access to that particular system for other purposes. One of them could be "hacking" (a) to obtain information which is synonymous to theft (b) manipulation of the system (c) to engage in fraud and others

In computer science or Information Technology , "hacking" is considered as unethical and constitutes a serious criminal offence. Following From the tacit admission of Mr.Emmanuel Ajarfo Abugri on peacefm that faithful day, one could tell that, his admission corroborates why he and his other colleague were picked up by National Security Operatives.

I have carefully monitored the public discourse for sometime now, It appears some people have decided not to pay attention to the substance of the matter. They are even questioning the locus of National Security in respect of the arrest. Cyber crimes are security attacks and we are told that, National Security cannot effect an arrest on any of these security attacks. like seriously? is this argument motivated by ignorance ? We need to be real in this country as a people.

Emmanuel Ajarfo Abugri upon his release granted interview on joynews and asserted that, the National Security Operatives who effected his arrest and his other colleague subjected both to torture. Respected journalists in this country also picked this claim and chose to beat same drum without verification. It is not for nothing that, medical doctors are the only people allowed to pronounce some one dead upon examination of the body and onward post- mortem where a report is generated as evidence. It is not only related to death pe say but to ascertain the truthfulness in any form of allegation concerning manhandling including " torture",. Infact on claims of torture, standard requires a medical report from a qualified medical doctor as the only proof. In this case there hasn't been any of such yet, people are still holding on to this questionable claim as a yardstick to bash this government.

On 3rd July,2019, One DEBORA ASABERE AMEYAW ESQ, who happens to be the lawyer for Mr Britwum who was picked up together with Emmanuel Ajarfo Abugri issued a statement drawing the attention of the Public to the fact that, her client was not tortured as claimed by Emmanuel Ajarfo Abugri.

The letter reads and I quote" Mr Britwum wishes to make it known to the public and colleague journalist that, he was neither tortured nor brutalized during his arrest and subsequent detention by the National Security Operatives on Thursday June,27th June,2019 over a matter that is presently under investigation."

The question is, is the above quoted words in the letter not a" punch" or a hefty blow on the credibility of the very person who asserted that, both were tortured ? In basic law, when some one claims to be a witness in a matter, the first thing to be checked is his credibility. When same person demonstrates lack of credibility, anything he says is not considered to be the utmost truth.

Let me end here

Dawda Eric(Equity)
Citizen Vigilance for Justice
4th July,2019
[email protected]