Ghana police arrest another suspect over journalist’s killing

ACCRA: Ghana police said Friday they have arrested another suspect over the killing of an investigative journalist who helped to expose graft in African football.

Ahmed Hussein- Suale, part of a team that carried out an undercover investigation, was gunned down as he returned to his home in the Accra suburb of Madina on Jan 16.

The shooting sent shockwaves through Ghana, one of the most stable democracies in West Africa and a beacon of media freedom.

“The Special Weapons and Tactics ( SWAT) team arrested the suspect in a targeted police operation near the West Hills Mall,” senior police officer Kwaku Boadu-Peprah told AFP.

He said the suspect was picked up in Accra on Thursday.

“We have transferred him to the CID (criminal investigation d epa r tment ) for fu r t he r investigations and hopefully he would be processed for court in the coming days,” he said.

Ghana ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders ( RSF) 2018 World Press Freedom Index — up three places on the previous year.

In February, six people were arrested over the killing but were released after interrogation.

Pol ice have a lso taken a statement from veteran MP and businessman Kennedy Agyapong, who published a photograph of Hussein- Suale on his private television channel before his death.

Agyapong, a prominent figure in the ruling New Patriotic Party ( NPP), also offered a reward to anyone who attacked the journalist.