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Inside Jan 25, 2018 .qxp_Layout 1 1/24/18 9:09 PM Page 9 12 DAILY Politics WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH HERITAGE THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 MFWA petitions NPP chair to address attack on journalists THE MEDIA Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has petitioned the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay, over the brutal assault by the party’s security officers on journalists which occurred at the party’s national headquarters in Accra. On December 21, 2017, four journalists who were covering a protest at the premises of the NPP headquarters were brutalized by heavily-built security officials. Despite several appeals by the media and press freedoms organisations to the leadership of the NPP, the party has failed to take any action 33 days after the incident. Meanwhile, the party through its General Secretary, Mr John Boadu, condemned a recent attack on a member of the party, Mr Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, whereas no single word had been said about the attack on the journalists which happened much earlier. The petition, therefore, called on the NPP national chairman to ensure that the party formally condemns the incident, apologises to the victims and punishes the perpetrators. The petition, which was delivered at the party headquarters on January 23, 2017, was also copied to the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, with a call on him to ensure that the assailants are arrested to face the law, in line with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s directive to the Police during the recent Presidential Media Encounter to deal firmly with the menace of vigilantism in the country. Kindly read the petition below. The National Chairman New Patriotic Party National Headquarters Accra Dear Sir, PETITION AGAINST PHYSICAL ASSAULT ON JOURNALISTS BY PARTY SE- CURITY OFFICERS On December 21, 2017, four journalists were physically attacked by some security officers manning your party’s Headquarters in Accra. The four journalists from TV3, Citi FM and Ghanaweb.com were brutalised by the security guards for covering a protest at the premises of your party headquarters by some supporters of your party from the Ellembelle Constituency of the Western Region. While filming the scene, TV3 cameraman, Godfred Tanam was slapped by the rampaging guards. Prince Afum, a TV3 reporter, was also attacked when he went to the aid of his colleague, Tanam. Ghanaweb.com reporter, Ebenezer Ackah was kicked on the ground after being slapped and violently pushed down. A reporter from Citi FM, Marie-Franz Fordjoe, who was filming the scene with her mobile phone, was pulled away by her braids and slapped in the face by the guards. The attack was widely reported by the media and condemned by various individuals and organisations including MFWA and the GJA who called on the leadership of your party to take action against the perpetrators. •Freddie Blay, Ag NPP chairman We are dismayed at the fact that despite these calls, your outfit has still not reacted to the wanton assault on the four journalists, 32 days after the incident. We consider this attitude to be unbecoming of the NPP which is one of the biggest political parties in Ghana and the ruling party. It is important to note that the General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu, has recently condemned the attack on a member of the party, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, whereas no single word has been said about the attack on the journalists which happened much earlier. We are therefore petitioning you directly as the party’s leader to use your good offices to ensure that the party formally condemns the incident renders apologies to the victims and punishes the perpetrators. We wish to take the opportunity to urge you and the NPP leadership as a whole to take steps to stump out the growing culture of impunity among the party’s supporters since its return to power in January 2017. In his recent encounter with the media, the President said that vigilantism has no party colours and asked the Police to deal with the menace. We have put the Inspector General of Police in copy of this petition, believing that his outfit will act, without prejudice to whatever action your leadership will take, to ensure that the assailants of the journalists are arrested to face the law. We are hopeful that you would respond favourably to this petition. Yours sincerely, Sulemana Braimah (Executive Director) CC: The Inspector General of Police, General Headquarters, Accra. Adwoa Safo commiserates with slain Police officer’s family BY STEPHEN ODOI LARBI MINISTER OF State in Charge of Public Procurement, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, has paid a visit to the family of Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi who was shot dead by some armed robbers who invaded the Kwabenya Police Station last Sunday. The armed robbers after shooting the Police Officer set free seven of their own members who were in police custody. Interacting with the deceased family at their residence in Pokuase, Wednesday, Hon. Adwoa Safo, said she felt very sad when she heard the news while attending a program abroad. •Sarah Adwoa Safo, Minister of State in Charge of Public Procurement After hearing the news, she had to suspend all her activities and rush down to get first hand information about the dastardly act. Adwoa Safo urged the family to take heart and have faith in God since He is the one who gives and takes. She therefore gave the family an undisclosed amount of money to support their preparation towards the one week observation of the passing of the Chief Inspector. She promised to attend the event. Adwoa Safo visited the family moments after touring the Kwabenya Police Station.
13 WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH DAILY HERITAGE THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 BY ABIGAIL ASARE Where are our female music video directors? BY RAMSON ACQUAH-HAYFORD THERE HAS been a paradigm shift in our gender and profession issues here in Ghana over the past few years and this change has been very significant in the confidence today’s woman possesses. However, despite the fact that women are actively competing in various professional fields, video directing is experiencing a major gender imbalance. It is against this background that the DAILY HERITAGE sought the expert view of the only known female music video director in Ghana concerning the subject. She is Edith Nwekenta, who is widely known for directing Stonebwoy’s ‘Mightylele’ music video. She is of a strong conviction that the agenda of women directors is not pushed and therefore it has become a common place for men to naturally assume that role. She mentions that there is this stereotype that mostly prevents females from pursuing the art. “In my experience of being on set, women are automatically expected to be the video models, makeup artists, and producers. I was once mistaken for a lead video model on set of a video that I was directing.” The director, who is also an actress, said, “People focus too much on gender and not on the work that is being produced. It’s important to create content that is of a high quality regardless of your gender and this will get people talking and attract the right type of attention.” But she believes there are still women behind the scenes of other audio visual spaces like movies with a creative force, citing Nicole Amarteifio, who directed ‘An African City’ and Shirley Frimpong of Sparrow Productions. She then suggested that “I think that by engaging women in conversations concerning the craft and putting them on (giving them opportunities) by stakeholders, this void can be filled. Also men and women can come together to make this a common ground.” On working with Stonebwoy, Ms Nwekenta stated, “It felt great! I think it’s important that women [should] know that we are capable of all •Edith Nwekenta, Director •Ms Nwekenta with Stonebwouy on set of ‘Mightylele’ video shoot types of jobs. I'm just happy that my work is being noticed and hopefully it opens doors for women that have similar aspirations.” “I’m here to encourage women that being creative is equally a fun role to have as producing or writing or being in the video itself; with more women behind the scenes we are able to set the pace for what we want to see on our screens,” she indicated. Ms Nwekenta, who is of both Ghanaian and Nigerian descent, is currently in Lagos working on a number of projects, from music videos to corporate and commercial contents. “I just want to say that change is already occurring for women behind the scenes. 2018 is going to be a huge year for us!” she said. I love Shatta Wale - EL ELORM ADABLAH, a Ghanaian Hip-Hop artiste, producer known in showbiz as EL, has said he has no personal issues with Shatta Wale. “I love Shatta Wale. You cannot hate Shatta, you will be shooting yourself in the foot,” explained the rapper to Doreen Andoh on Joy FM. The 2016 Ghana Music Awards ‘Artiste of the Year’ was speaking on reports that all was not well between himself and Wale. “I don’t have a problem with Shatta; he is my brother. We even had a great discussion at Heathrow Airport, where he gave me a piece of advice when we were awaiting our flight,” EL said. McBrown, others join Maame Serwaa to mourn mother THE FINAL funeral rites for the late Rose Benson, mother of actress Maame Serwaa, known in real life as Clara Benson, was held over the weekend at her hometown, Abuakwa Koforidua. Many Ghanaian celebrities were present to support the young actress as she bid her mother farewell. Present at the event were Nana Ama McBrown, •Maame Serwaa, actress •EL Papa Kumasi, Vivian Jill, Wayoosi, officials of Miracle Films, Kwaku Manu, Top K, Matilda Asamoah, Akyere Bruwaa and surprisingly Big Akwes. Big Akwes has recently been caught up in a triangular controversy involving fellow actors Maame Serwaa and Bill Asamoah.
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January 25

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