By: Murtala Issah
The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region has condemned an alleged attack on a radio Presenter in Tamale in the Northern region by a member of the party, Iddrisu Hardi Pagazaa.
The Party’s Regional Secretary, Mohammed Abdul Salam has apologised to the management of the Radio Station, Dagbon FM and the victim, Sadie Gariba for the alleged attack.
Mr. Pagazaa allegedly stormed the studios of Dagbon FM and attacked Mr. Sadiq Gariba who was hosting a programme at the time of the alleged incident on Wednesday May 3, as journalists around the world including Ghana, marked World Press Freedom Day.
In a video clip of the incident posted on social media, Mr. Pagazaa who contested for a Communications Executive position and lost in the recent NDC regional executive elections, is seen walking into the studio with another man.
The two seized the presenter by the collar of his Tee-shirt and pulled him out of the studio. The victim, told GBC news in Tamale, that, “they left me at the gate and walked away.”
Mr. Pagazaa’s actions has since drawn widespread condemnation on social media in the region.
Writing on the incident on his Facebook page, the Director of Communications at the University for Development Studies, Abdul Hayi Moomen, emphasised that, “if nothing is done to stop the likes of Iddrisu Hardi Pagazaa, their actions will soon encourage many other persons, who, when they feel “attacked” by the media, will take the law into their own hands and dish out “justice” to the “criminal” media practitioners.”
The Tamale District Police Command has since invited Mr. Pagazaa for his statement.
The Northern Regional Secretary of the NDC told GBC NEWS that, though the assailant is a member of the NDC, “the party does not condone such actions.”
Attacks on radio presenters in Tamale by politicians is quite a frequent occurrence with perpetrators of such attacks mostly getting away with their actions.