Parliament condemns Ennin's ghastly murder

Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - Parliament on Thursday condemned last week's gruesome murder of Mr Samuel Ennin, who until his untimely death was the Chairman of the Ashanti Region Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association.

"This barbaric act must be condemned in the strongest language and without any reservation. This is the most shameful act and most un-Ghanaian.

"... I appeal to this August House to urge the security forces in the country to put in place stringent measures that would end the recurrence of such morbid murders," Mr Andrew Kingsford Mensah, Member, NPP-Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, said in a statement.

Unknown assailants gunned down Mr Ennin, who until his untimely death was also a News Editor of Ash FM in Kumasi in a drinking spot and fled without being identified.

Mr Mensah, in his statement urged journalists in the country not to be intimidated but; "discharge their duties truthfully without fear of intimidation so as to put democracy at its proper level in our society." Contributing to the statement, Mr Isaac Asiamah, NPP-Atwima-Nponua who called on the ghost of the late Ennin to chase the perpetrators until they are brought to book, condemned the murder and suggested that key stakeholders in the nation's democracy should be given protection, mentioning particularly the media.

However, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, who described the late Mr Ennin as a thoroughbred journalist, dutiful and detailed in his reportage said care must be taken in ascribing that the murder was politically motivated.

He said it was too early to start pointing accusing fingers and called on the public to be careful not to interfere with police investigations into the murder.

"We all have to come to deck and put an end to this murder, to allow the police to finish with their investigative work.

"Our jurisprudence withholds that no one would be pronounced guilty until proven guilty by a court of law," the Minister said, and called on the citizenry to allow the police to finish its work and report on its work.

Ms Josephine Addoh, NPP-Kwadaso said the death of the Mr Ennin was a big blow to democracy and encouraged media people to join the crusade against violence, and the media to do its work, "God is on their side and nation is also on their side."

Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South, described the late Ennin as a personal friend.

He called for "chop-bars", restaurants and drinking spots to be provided with security for guests at all times.

Mr Manu drew the attention of the House that the late Ghanaian football star, Mr Robert Mensah also died in a bar and called for MPs to be provided with security.

Professor Mike Ocquaye, Minister of Communications, condemned the murder, saying that the Ghanaian society, our forefathers have constantly echoed the importance of freedom of speech, noting that Ghanaians should not encourage any thing that had a semblance of violence.

He called for a second look at the kind violence that had permeated the society fabric.

"When the food is not good in the dinning hall do not make violence; coups are not the means for overthrowing a constitutionally elected government and boycotts are also not used to address issues outside Parliament.

"I urge students, workers and lawmakers to make a respect of law and order as part and parcel of our Ghanaianness," Prof Ocquaye said. Dr Anthony Osei-Akoto, Deputy Minister of Finance called for the institution of a scholarship scheme for the children of late Mr Ennin. Meanwhile the Parliamentary Press has added its voice to the condemnation of the murder of the Mr. Ennin and expressed confidence that the police would be up to the task of unravelling the mystery surrounding the death of Mr Ennin.

A statement signed by Mr. Andrew Edwin Arthur, Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps advised journalists to be security conscious in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities and not to hesitate to report to the police suspicious characters and moves that might harm them in one way or the other.