A group of rampaging youth in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana on November 29, 2011 attacked and prevented journalists from covering their violent protest.

Five of the journalists attacked included Moses Dotse Aklorbortu, a regional correspondent of the state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper, Kweku Owusu Preprah, reigning journalist of the year and news editor of privately-owned Kizz FM radio station, Patrick Enmil Arthur and Lord Tawiah of the Accra-based Metro TVstation. Another reporter, Ohene Djan, who was reporting the protest live to his radio station, Asempa FM, was also harassed.

The Daily Graphic newspaper reported in its November 30 edition that the angry youth mounted roadblocks to make the road impassable. They dug trenches and burnt tyres to protest the poor condition of the Takoradi main habour road.

Aklorbortu who photographed the protest was roughed up and sustained a minor injury on his left hand.

“I was pushed to the ground and fell in between two parked haulage trucks. My shirt was torn and they took away my Samsung dual-view digital camera and a nokia cellular phone,” Aklorbortu told Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).

The Takoradi police are investigating the matter.

MFWA strongly condemns this attack on journalists who were going about their legitimate duty. We demand immediate investigations into the matter for the perpetrators to be punished severely.

MFWA strongly condemns this attack on journalists who were going about their legitimate duty. We demand immediate investigations into the matter for the perpetrators to be punished severely.