Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has threatened Daniel Bampoe, the Eastern Regional reporter of the Daily Guide newspaper, Ghana biggest private newspaper.
The MFWA’s correspondent reported that the threats follow an article authored by Bampoe and published in the February 6, 2015 edition of the newspaper. The article, “Minister Dumps Wife Over Cocaine Saga,” said the deputy minister, who is also a Member of Parliament for Lower Manya in the Eastern Region of Ghana, had reportedly packed out of his official residence and left his wife behind.
The newspaper also said the deputy minister had moved in with his “mistress” at East Legon, a suburb of Accra, where he had allegedly rented a house for her.
Following the publication of the story, Terlabi allegedly phoned the reporter and said “thank you very much. I have seen your story on front page right! And is that the twist you have given it? Thank you. You are a young man and you will see how you are going to survive in this country.”
The Lower Manya constituency secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress is also said to have threatened the reporter.
Meanwhile, Bampoe has petitioned the country’s Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan.
In an email correspondence with MFWA’s correspondent, Bampoe said his reason for petitioning the IGP is to request an investigation into the matter. “I am calling on the IGP to investigate the matter, since it is a threat and can cause harm on my life,” he told the correspondent.
“I want the IGP to make the MP and his constituency to sign a bond so that I can move freely in the Lower Manya Area, and any part of Ghana, without being harmed by anybody, since the MP said ‘we shall see how you are going to survive in this country’, and the deputy secretary also said the Lower Manya People would never forgive me” Bampoe added.
The MFWA is concerned about the threats against Bampoe’s life and appeals to the IGP to investigate the matter and offer the journalist the necessary protection.