A Legacy of Silence: Six Years Without Justice for Ahmed Suale
Six years have passed since the tragic death of Ahmed Suale Hussein, an investigative journalist with Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s Tiger Eye PI. On 16 January 2019, he was shot three times by unidentified men on motorbikes while in his vehicle. The attack left him with two shots to the chest and one to the neck, marking a brutal end to his life and a devastating blow to the media community in Ghana.
The murder sent shockwaves through the nation and attracted international attention. Newsrooms across Ghana were filled with fear and uncertainty as journalists grappled with the question: who would be next? Civil society groups, the media, and political leaders all raised their voices in demand for justice, calling for the killers to be brought to light and held accountable.
This newspaper seeks to remind President John Dramani Mahama of his promise to ensure justice for Ahmed Suale. This reminder is especially relevant given the President’s recent statements about his administration’s stance against any form of intimidation or violence against journalists.
At the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards on Saturday, November 8, President Mahama reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting press freedom and the safety of media professionals. He made it clear that under his leadership, the government would not tolerate any form of intimidation, interference, or attacks on journalists.
Speaking on the theme “Self-Guarding Ghana: The Role of the Media in Promoting Security and Peace,” the President pledged to restore the atmosphere of media freedom that characterized Ghana’s democracy before 2017. “My administration has chosen the path of restoring the spirit of pre-2017 Ghana, when freedom of expression, institutional respect, and journalistic safety defined our democratic experience,” he stated.
While the President’s assurances are welcomed, there remains a deep concern that six years after Ahmed Suale’s murder, no justice has been served. His family continues to wait for accountability, year after year, without any arrests or prosecutions despite repeated promises from state authorities.
Six years on, the unresolved murder of Ahmed Suale stands as a painful reminder of a state that has failed to protect one of its own. It raises uncomfortable questions about our collective commitment to defending the vulnerable and safeguarding the freedoms we claim to cherish.
It is time for those promises to be honored. Justice delayed must not become justice denied.