An Accra Human Rights Court has
ordered two staff of the Ablekuma District office of the National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to pay GHȼ 7500 as damages for assaulting an editor and
two reporters of Adom FM.
The court presided over by Justice
A.M.Domakyaareh (Mrs.) ordered the respondents to jointly render an unqualified
apology in writing to the applicants within fourteen (14) days from the day of
judgement and cause same to be published in any daily newspaper of national
circulation, giving it special prominence.
General damages awarded in favour of
the applicants as follows and jointly and severally against respondents
To the 1st applicant GHȼ
2,500.00
To the 2nd applicant GHȼ
2,000.00
To the 3rd applicant GHȼ
1,000.00
Cost of GHȼ 2,000.000 against the
respondents jointly and severally.
Counsel for the plaintiffs, Samson
Lardy Anyenini filed the suit September 11, 2014 after the defendants, Israel
Ayeh and Richjoyce Armah had allegedly assaulted the journalists in the lawful
discharge of their duties.
Background
Adom FM's Editor, Afia Pokua
popularly known as Vim Lady and two other journalists – Nana Sefa and Shadrach
Kofi Assan - were allegedly brutalized by the Manager of the National
Health Insurance Scheme at Ablekuma in Accra.
Nana Sefa, a reporter with the
station, had gone there to report on the frustrations and complaints of persons
who had been queuing since 3am to go through biometric registration, but
had his mobile phone confiscated by Israel Kwame Aryeh, the Scheme Manager of
the NHIS there.
Mr. Aryeh detained the reporter,
insisting he would only release him if his Editor came there.
But things took a different turn
when Afia Pokua got there in the company of another reporter,
Kofi Assan.
Attempts by the News Editor, Pokua,
to retrieve the phone infuriated Mr. Laryeh who, with the support of some
members of his staff, pounced on her and assaulted her. She was dragged
into a gutter and left with injuries on her thighs, legs, hands.
Kofi Assan on the other hand,
received a number of 'dirty' slaps which left him dazed and with blood in his
eyes. He also lost his mobile phone. Nana Sefa, apart from having all the
contents of his mobile phone wiped off and the film on his camera exposed,
received his share of the beatings.
After a year of litigation, their
counsel, Samson Lardy Anyenini said the verdict is victory for all
journalists in the country.
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Source: Adomonline
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