Justice for Latif: We’re following due process, final closure will be made soon – Police to public

General News of Tuesday, 10 July 2018

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Ghana Police Service is urging the public to remain calm and balanced in their comments on issues regarding the harassment and assault of Multimedia Journalist, Latif Iddrisu at its National Headquarters earlier this year.

A statement dated July 10, 2018 and signed by Director-General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, ACP David Eklu indicated that the service has “taken note of public discourse on an alleged assault on Mr. Latif Iddris, and wishes to inform the public on steps so far taken by the police regarding professionalism and the criminal aspect of the case”.

They among other things, named fruitful meetings with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the National Media Commission and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to establish strong police-media relations as part of steps taken by the service to make headway on the issue.

They also noted that Mr. Iddris was issued a police medical report form and asked to produce two witnesses which he claimed he had in his statement to the police after the incident.

“On the criminal aspect of the case, Mr. Iddris lodged a complaint at the Cantonments Police Station and gave a statement to the effect that he was assaulted at the entrance of the CID headquarters. Among others, he stated in his written statement that he has two principal witnesses to testify in his favour, for which reason he was told to produce the two witnesses to assist in investigation. He was also issued a Police medical report form, which he is yet to return to Police”, a section of the statement read.

The statement comes some days after the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) organized a press conference to register their displeasure at the slow pace at which the police was responding to the issue that had been put before them.

They vowed not to rest until the police find and punish officers who brutalised Latif to pulp in March, this year.

“The GJA will win not flinch in its resolve to seek justice for Latif,” the Association’s President, Affail Monney, said at a news conference in Accra on Friday.

Mr Monney said it was “mind-boggling” that the Ghana Police Service, which has a commendable reputation of catching perpetrators of hidden heinous crimes would say it cannot identify officers who unprofessionally brutalised the reporter because CCTV cameras at the scene of the attack were not functioning.

Read the full statement below: