The grieving family of Ahmed Suale, the prominent investigative journalist brutally murdered in 2019, has voiced their deepening frustration over the lack of progress in the pursuit of justice for his heinous killing.
Ahmed Suale was a vital member of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye PI team, known for their fearless exposés on corruption and wrongdoing. However, the family’s hope for justice has dwindled to a point where they have chosen to abandon their efforts to seek closure through legal means, citing the slow pace and apparent lack of results in the police investigation.
The family’s decision to halt their pursuit stems from the disheartening reality that all 14 individuals initially detained by the police as suspects in Ahmed Suale’s murder were eventually released due to subsequent investigations proving their innocence.
This lack of progress has left the family feeling disenchanted and powerless, causing them to cease their regular visits to the police headquarters for updates on the case.
Ibrahim Tahidu, a spokesperson for the family, emphasized their belief that the inflammatory remarks made by Kennedy Agyapong, a Member of Parliament, played a role in the tragic murder of Ahmed Suale.
The journalist was fatally shot on January 16, 2019, shortly after the release of the groundbreaking “Number 12” documentary, which exposed rampant corruption within Ghana’s football industry. Regrettably, Suale’s murder occurred following Agyapong’s public incitement for violence against the journalist.
Although the government had initially promised to ensure justice for the heinous crime, the case remains unresolved, underscoring the challenges in achieving accountability for attacks on journalists in certain contexts.
The family’s decision to relinquish their pursuit of justice serves as a stark reminder of the formidable obstacles in prosecuting those responsible for violence against members of the media, particularly in situations where political and influential figures may be implicated.
As the family’s hopes for justice fade and their frustration deepens, the unresolved murder of Ahmed Suale highlights a broader issue of impunity for crimes against journalists. The case also underscores the urgent need for strengthened mechanisms to ensure the safety of journalists and the effective prosecution of those who perpetrate violence against them.
