The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has commended the Ghana Police Service for the arrest of a suspect linked to the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, marking a significant breakthrough in the long-standing case.

In a statement signed by GJA General Secretary Kofi Yeboah, the association acknowledged the efforts of the police, particularly Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno and the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor.

The suspect, Daniel Owusu Koranteng, also known as Amakye, was arraigned before the Madina District Court on March 19, 2025, and has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on April 1, 2025.

Significant progress

The GJA emphasised that this arrest is the most significant progress made in the case since Ahmed Suale was assassinated on January 16, 2019.

“Over the past six years, the failure to bring his killers to justice has been a major setback for press freedom in Ghana, impacting the country's ranking on the World Press Freedom Index” it revealed.

While welcoming this latest development, the GJA urged the police to intensify efforts to apprehend other suspects linked to the journalist’s murder. The association credited persistent advocacy and pressure from media organisations for pushing authorities to act.

Justice

The GJA reaffirmed its commitment to seeking justice for Ahmed Suale, stating that it is closely monitoring developments in the case. It also recalled its earlier ultimatum to take the matter to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice if concrete action was not taken by the end of March 2025.

Additionally, the association is demanding updates on other unresolved cases of attacks on journalists, including the assault on journalist Latif Iddrisu, which they have also considered taking to the ECOWAS Court.

“International partners, including the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), have been informed of the suspect’s arrest and are prepared to escalate the matter to global platforms to ensure justice is served” it stated.

Pledge

The GJA pledged to engage further with the police leadership to obtain more details on the prosecution of the suspect and the ongoing investigation into Ahmed Suale’s murder, reaffirming its stance on protecting press freedom in Ghana and beyond.