Baako To Give Torture Evidence

KWEKU BAAKO Jnr., Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide and several times victim of political detention will be appearing before the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) when it starts sitting today.

In an interview with an Accra Radio Station, Baako stated that he yesterday submitted supporting documents to the NRC on allegations of torture under the PNDC regime.

He said he was eye-witness to the torture of Mawuli Gorkah and Kyeremeh Gyan, whose bodies, including the penis of Gokah was sliced and which Gokah was asked to eat. According to him, when Mawuli refused, his cellmate Gyan was given the raw human flesh to eat and he also refused.

They were both executed on allegations of plotting to stage an uprising.

In a related development, the Ghana Journalists Association has (GJA) on Monday urged journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession and report the truth in their coverage of the sittings of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) which begins in Accra today.

It also urged witnesses to speak the truth and appealed to officials of the NRC to uphold fairness and justice so that the process would help heal the nation’s wounds and eventually reconcile the people.

A statement signed by Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of GJA, said journalists should abide by “The Spirit of Akosombo” in order to apply the needed professionalism and circumspection in their reportage.

“It was in recognition of the crucial role of the media in the success of the process that the GJA formulated and adopted ‘The Spirit of Akosombo’ as a collegial pact among media practitioners of renewed fidelity to the people of Ghana, serving the national process of understanding, reconciliation and healing through the considered and consistent practice of the ethics of their profession.”

The GJA said it hoped that the document would remain a source of reference for all journalists, since as guiding principles for coverage of the delicate process, it prescribed the necessary antidote to the challenges that the media were likely to face in the whole process.

“There can be no doubt that this stage of the process, which demands great media participation, is the most sensitive.

“This requires journalists in their reportage to adhere to the highest ethical standards, professional competence and to good behaviour in carrying out their duties.”

The GJA said it found coverage of the NRC process so far satisfactory, adding that it was confident that journalists would abide by “The Spirit of Akosombo” and live up to expectation, but not compromising in any way to reporting nothing but the truth and bearing in mind their duty to serve the public, who had the right to unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information.

“As the GJA reminds media practitioners of their need to show greater commitment to professionalism and circumspection at this delicate stage of the process so as not to inflame passions, it equally pleads with Ghanaians in general, especially those who would be called as witnesses, to speak only the truth and for politicians in particular, to refrain from making provocative statements.”