Hajia Fati slapped Journalist out of frustration – Pratt reveals

Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has revealed what pushed a staunch member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Hajia Fati to assault a female journalist at the party’s Headquarters.

According to Pratt, Hajia Fati who’s a friend, informed him in a conversation that she was led to attack the media practitioner because she was frustrated.

“I think this incident happened on Friday, on Saturday, I checked my phone and realized I had missed three calls from Hajia Fati and I called her back. I said, Hajia Fati, you’ve done your thing again, she then told me she assaulted the journalist out of frustration and she swore never to repeat such behavior and that she’s regretted. I hope it is true.” Kwesi Pratt said on Peace FM Tuesday.

He however did not explain what exactly Hajia Fati was frustrated about saying they had a private conversation.

Hajia Fati reportedly slapped the journalist from the Multimedia Group, Ohemaa Sakyiwaa Ahwenepa at the NPP party’s office on Friday, but said she only took that action because the reporter had not sought her permission before taking pictures of her, neither did she introduce herself as a journalist.

The victim had been assigned to the NPP headquarters on Friday to report on events as suspended Second Vice Chairman of the party, Sammy Crabbe had gone to the office to pick forms to contest the party’s chairmanship position at the upcoming National Delegates Congress.

The incident was recorded just a day after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day here in Ghana.

The NPP has condemned the attack few hours after some section of the media threatened to blacklist the party and boycott its upcoming Congress, should the governing NPP fail to condemn the attack.

The party in a statement signed by the Acting General Secreatry, John Boadu said: “The NPP has noted with concern an alleged attack on a journalist by one of its supporters, Hajia Fati. We distance ourselves from the act and condemn it unreservedly.”

The statement further noted that although leadership has already begun an internal enquiry into the alleged incident, it will also cooperate with other agencies investigating same in the matter.

“The party wishes to assure Ghanaian journalists that, it respects and cherishes the role of the media as partners in development and does not condone any action intended to suppress press freedom. No journalist should feel intimidated and must continue to discharge his/her duties without fear,” the statement urged.