2 Assaulted photographers compensated

Two photo journalists, who were assaulted while on duty at this year’s Independence Day celebration, have received token compensation from the military at a ceremony in Accra.
Mr Emmanuel Nii Martey Botchway of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, received cash and Mr Vincent Dzatse of the New Times Corporation, whose camera was destroyed during an assault on them, was presented with a new camera.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Matthew Quashie, who presented the items to the victims at a ceremony at the Burma Camp, once again apologised to the victims for the assault and promised that such an incident would never happen again.

On March 6, 2012, at the independence parade at the Black Star Square in Accra, the two photo journalists were assaulted by military personnel while covering the event.

The Ghanaian Times photographer had his camera smashed while the Graphic photographer was manhandled by military personnel.

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, said there was the need to deepen the bridges of cooperation between the media and the military to open more lines of communication, adding that, communication was the bridge of understanding.

Daily Graphic/Ghana