We're sorry - Police Administration

Accra, July 25, GNA - The Ghana Police Service Administration on Monday expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to the TV Afrika crew at President John Agyekum Kufuor's private residence in Accra last Friday. The Inspector General of Police, Mr Patrick Kwateng Acheampong, addressing a press conference on the incident in Accra, said the situation was unfortunate, and arose because there was misinterpretation of motives on both sides.

Some Policemen on guard duties at the President's private residence prevented the crew, including a woman broadcast journalist, from taking footage of the hotel building, nicknamed 'Hotel Kufuor' in the vicinity at the Airport Residential Area.

Media reports indicated that the crew was taking the footage of the hotel, to back-up its story after a press conference by the Commission on Human Right and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on the hotel saga. The Policemen were alleged to have not only prevented the crew from taking the pictures, but also kept the crew indoors for some hours and were not allowed to make contacts to their officials and relatives. The crew was also left in the middle of the road when being sent to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

Mr Acheampong said it was regular and normal security precautions for the Police and other security agencies to find out the identity and motives of persons that were seen filming certain strategic locations unless prior notification had been given for such a venture.

He said Police investigations so far conducted assessed that from where the cameraman positioned himself, it was possible to capture the residence of the President, and the extra vigilance of the men on duty was based on 'General Security Alert " issued to all personnel in view of the recent crime trends in the country as well as on the global scene.

The IGP said investigations were underway, and the Police would act appropriately after the investigations.

He announced that the Police Administration would liaise with the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to work out guidelines on taking photographs as well as entering places, which might be of security, concern to the nation.

It could be recalled that last Friday after attending a news conference by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) the news crew from TV Africa decided to pass by the Hotel premises and take video shots to add to their report, when they were confronted by the policemen on guard duty who allegedly whisked away into the residence of the President and had their equipment seized. The IGP said the vigilance of the men on duty was based on a general "security alert" issued to all personnel in view of the recent crime trends not only in Ghana, but on the global scene.

Meanwhile the General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Bright Blewu has condemned the action by the Police Officers, who he described as being overzealous. According to him the incident could have been avoided, if there was a better communication between the media personnel and the officers on guard duty.

The IGP has therefore assured media personnel that, henceforth there would be a better communication between the Police and the media on how to seek permission before filming a property belonging to the state, an individual or taking a photograph of an individual.