Prime suspect in journalist's death arrested

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dr. K.K. Manfo says the police in Kumasi have arrested a prime suspect in the killing of journalist Stephen Kwaku Ennin.

Ennin, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association and also the Editor of Ashh FM, a local radio station in Kumasi, was shot by unknown gunmen in the evening of Friday at a popular spot at Pankrono Estate in Kumasi.

Dr. Manfo who made the disclosure while contributing to a discussion on the scourge of small arms in the sub region and Ghana in particular, did not disclose the identity of the suspect but assured that the police would get to the bottom of the matter.

He urged members of the public, particularly media practitioners to desist from jumping to hasty conclusions and adducing all manner of motives for the killing.

He said his information was that Ennin was shot in the cause of an attack by suspected armed robbers who had demanded the mobile phones of Enin and his colleagues at a spot he usually spent his evenings.

"I have instructed the Regional Commander to go all out. We have our strategies. We know the area where most of the criminals operate and there are even names, people that we suspect and that there is a prime suspect who they have picked and it is too early to come out with his identification and particulars. We are going all out to make sure that those perpetrators are arrested"?.

He maintained that it was early days yet for anyone to conclude that it was an assassination or murder or to rule out robbery since looking at the ingredients, armed robbery was more likely.

"It could be armed robbery because when there was a stampede the robbers felt threatened, their safety was unsure, they could take to their heels and leave whatever booty even if they have collected at the scene.

"We have experienced all that. I have been Regional Commander at the spot there. The whole of the Old Tafo cemetery area there are a number of criminals who even reside within the cemetery area and it is important that there regular swoops on these people to bring them to book. As for the strategies, we have discussed. And we will go all out to investigate but my prayer is that don’t rush to conclusions."?

He died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital were he was rushed after the incident.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants, who were in an unregistered white saloon car, entered the spot and without any provocation shot the deceased in the stomach after firing indiscriminately to frighten customers.

The assailants entered their vehicle and drove away. Mr Ennin was taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he died, leaving behind a wife and two children.

The Ghana Journalist Association has in a statement offered a ¢10 million reward for anyone who would provide information leading to the killers.

"We wish to appeal to the Police Administration to provide all the necessary support for the Ashanti Regional Police Command to carry out a massive manhunt for the culprits,"? the statement said.

"We kindly request members of the general public, especially lovers of free expression and democracy to lend their support to the police in their search for the murderers", it said.

The GJA also requested all media houses to fly red flags at half mast for four days starting Tuesday in memory of Mr Ennin.

Meanwhile the Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo regional branches of the GJA have condemned the killing and said it would not deter them in the performance of their duties.