Photo journalist locked up in cells

Accra, Jan. 27, GNA - A photo journalist of Daily Guide newspaper was on Wednesday locked up in the Cocoa Affairs Court cells for four hours following an order by a High Court Judge Mr. Justice James B. Benson. Mr. Emmanuel Kubi, the photo journalist and some prison officers exchanged words when he attempted to take photographs of four convicted robbers who allegedly confessed killing Pastor Nii Addy of the Lighthouse Chapel last year.

The armed robbers; Yaw Asamoah, Kofi Yeboah, Ebo Kwabena and Osei Prempeh were sentenced to 20 years each in two different robbery cases by a Circuit Court. The four prison officers who were escorting the convicts prevented Mr. Kubi from taking photographs of the convicts because he did not seek permission.

Mr. Kubi allegedly took two hefty slaps from the officers when he refused to surrender his camera.

This attracted a crowd to the scene and the noise between the two parties thereby drawing the attention of Mr. Justice Benson who ordered the detention of the photo journalist. At exactly 1:45 pm, Mr. Kubi was released by the police officer manning the cells.

Efforts by media personnel to speak to the judge proved futile because he was hearing cases. Mr. Kubi said in the cells one of the convicts fingered him in the eyes and hit him on the chest because he had been informed that he (Mr. Kubi) was taking photographs for publication in a newspaper. 27 Jan. 10