Audio Attachment:Listen to Manasseh Azure Awuni |
Prolific writer and one-time GJA Journalist of the Year, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has rendered an apology to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu for comparing his inability to stem vigilantism to a "castrated pig" in a recent article.
The astute journalist, in a recent article, assessed the performance of the IGP since assuming office under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo.
Under the IGP's tenure, there has been series of violent acts by vigilante groups.
A pro-NPP vigilante group, the Invisible Forces, has been terrorizing Ghanaians and in the recent by-election at the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, the group is reported to have donned security uniforms to wreck chaos in the by-election.
The by-election saw about eighteen people sustaining gunshot wounds after some faceless security personnel fired at them.
These security personnel were identified by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as members of the ruling NPP vigilante group.
In his article, Manasseh Azure compared the weakness of the IGP to clamp down on perpetrators of these violent acts, to a castrated pig.
His description seems to have angered the Police administration who demanded an apology from the decorated journalist.
Police Public Relations Officer, ACP David Eklu, at a press conference held by the hierarchy of the Administration, stated emphatically that Azure's character doesn't reflect the professional standard of journalism in the country.
ACP David Eklu noted that the language used by Azure is "unGhanaian, it is in bad state . . . If you choose to use a language that does not reflect the standard and cultural values in this country, then you are not practising a professional job".
"We take strong exception to the type of language used and we take strong exception to the imagery," he stressed.
Responding to the Police statement, Manasseh Azure in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's Kokrokoo sought to clarify his article saying "for some time now, the IGP has been a political puppet . . . The puppet signifies the IGP is under the control of the political class which the Police have admitted. The second part I said is that when it comes to dealing with political vigilantism, the IGP is as impotent as a castrated pig".
Mr. Azure noted that he didn't mean to sound offensive but if Mr. Asante-Apeatu and the Police Service "take offence of that expression that, in dealing with political vigilantism, the IGP takes offence that I compared his weakness to that of a castrated pig; if they take offence, I duly apologize. I did not call the IGP a useless pig or I did not call the IGP a pig”.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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The police are talking about professional standards of professional journalists and not crime. A professional journalist doesn't use Manasseh language
It is an open secret that the IGP has lost it in protecting the citizens. It is only politically drunk individuals who will defend such weak person. He should resign because on the grounds of idea deficit.
Correct description of IGP :A disgrace to the Police service and his master Will be remembered as worse of all IGP
In the first place I am so disappointed in peacefmonline for your jaundiced journalism. Your editorial policy is so biased against Akufo so much so that in presenting your so called apology from such an arrogant writer , you painted a picture linking the so called npp hooligans to what happened at Ayawaso Wougon as the gospel truth. You sounded so absolute as if you have credible evidence to that effect.. Where was that arrogant writer when someone was shot at Chereponi by the azorka boys ? Where was he when my cousins were drive over by Anite De Sousso ? Was there no IGP in Ghana then?If there was what was his reaction and how did the arrogant writer describe him? Was he and peacefmonline editorial board in Ghana when a demonstration caused someone's eye to blinded? Was there no IGP in Ghana then? If there was what was his attitude to those who effected such barbaric actio? Were you guys in Ghana when a whole minister described such a painful injury as a tomatoe paste which has been pasted on the eye? What was writer's description of the then IGP and the minister? By the way do remember Asoase by election which brought Muntaka to parliament? What about 7 polling stations elections at Akwatia? Was Azure in Ghana then and what was his description of the then IGP when the whole general secretary an opposition party who was a polling agent was told by the police to leave the place for his own safety? Peacefmonline your hatred for Akufo Addo is so manifest in the stories you carry. ENYE , Na munnyae!
It's only shallow minded people who would take issues with Manasseh's article. He used a figure of speech:metaphor just to indicate how incapable the top hierarchy of the police of dealing with security breaches in this country. Let's remind ourselves that a lot has happened :girls kidnapped, journalists murdered, politicians murdered and all these remain unsolved. The last straw that broke the camel's back was the unleashing of unprecedented brutality on voters by people using police vehicles and insignia and his response was that he was not aware! It clearly indicates the Igp does not understand or fully appreciate the responsibility of his office. What then is the crime of a journalist who writes metaphorically to depict the state of affairs pertaining to security handling in this country? Would the Igp require an apology from Manasseh if his bravery in dealing with the security issues had been compared to a brave lion protecting his cubs and territory?
***barred word*** post from so-called ArabaUs. The IGP deserves such a description. Look at the sorry state of Ghana Police Service because the IGP is remote-controlled by politicians. If our security apparatus is politicized, why lies in our hope as a people?
I'm so disappointed that you would describe your IGP as a castrated pig. In the first place you can't describe a human being to a pig, much less castrated. Secondly he could be your big brother or sibling or uncle or relative. You have to give much respect to the highest person in the Police Service and count yourself lucky that there is freedom of speech and press that allows your likes to disrespect and insult your superiors in society. You haven't also rendered an apology because you keep saying "if if,if" showing you don't even accept that you were unethical and abusive. Didn't expect such a misuse of your freedoms to impinge on someone else's reputation. Very disgusting and repugnant. He should sue you for defamation!!!