Journalists cry to Chief Justice over magistrate's conduct

The judicial press corps has petitioned Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo over the conduct of the Magistrate of District Court 8, Her Worship Afua Sackey, towards them.

The press corps is seeking recognition and respect from Magistrates when they appear in their court to report on stories.

The petition follows the seizure of the mobile phones of the journalists on Tuesday, 19 June 2018 on the orders of Ms Sackey when the pressmen went to cover the hearing of the case between the Republic and Dr Dominic Obeng-Andoh.

She had the Court Warrant Officer confiscate all phones belonging to journalists before starting the hearing.

The journalists, after the hearing, expressed their reservations about the magistrate’s action.

The Judge has not been enthused by the presence of journalists in her court since the case started and once asked them to seek clearance from the Court Clerk before gaining access to her sittings.

Dr Dominic Obeng-Andoh is in court in connection with the death of the Deputy CEO of the National Entrepreneurship Innovation Programme (NEIP), Stacy Offei-Darko, who died at his facility a few weeks ago under what the deceased’s family described as strange circumstances.