Tiger Eye PI undercover investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, 31, was shot dead three times by two unidentified gunmen near the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in the Madina neighbourhood, 12 kilometres outside of Accra, Ghana.
Ahmed Hussein-Suale’s murder case was transferred to the Homicide Unit of Ghana's Criminal ....................Investigation Department. Image: Graphic Online
Hussein-Suale, who collaborated with journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas on investigations at Tiger Eye, was driving home alone at night on January 16 2019 when the shooting occurred. According to local media he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Pentecost Hospital.
Assistant commissioner of Ghana’s Director-General of the Public Affairs, sergeant David Eklu, encouraged the public to make use of the police social media handles to volunteer information related to the incident which is now overseen by the Homicide Unit of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department.
The murder has been met with widespread condemnation. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said he expected police to bring the perpetrators to book as soon as possible.
“I’ve learnt with sadness of the killing of Ahmed Husein-Saule, an associate of investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. I condemn the act unreservedly, and extend my condolences to the family,” president Akufo-Addo said.
“A ruling party parliamentarian’s hate speech and death threats against this journalist and some of his colleagues did not lead to any sanctions,"
- Arnaud Froger, head of Reporters Without Borders Africa desk
The Tiger Eye team has been at the receiving end of intimidation and backlash from those ruffled by what they uncover in their exposes. Among these are disinformation campaigns calculated to undermine the seriousness of the evidence unveiled by the investigations.
Ahmed Hussein-Suale in particular was also the receiving end of chilling hate speech remarks from a ruling party politician inciting violence against him. Anas included these remarks in a farewell message posted on Facebook.
The murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale happens only a week after Global Investigative Journalism Network’ Africa editor Raymond Mpubani rated the 2018 a Tiger Eye expose top in his selection of 10 of the best African investigations from last year.
The impact of what Mpumbani calls “jaw-dropping scenes” of malfeasance was felt when the president of the Ghana Football Association resigned while the Confederation of African Football also suspended referees. In Ghana’s referees association issued 53 10-year bans and another 8 lifetime bans.
Reporters Without Borders’ head of the Africa desk, Arnaud Froger, said Ghanaian authorities have to conduct swift and thorough investigations on the murder. He added that lack of action is unworthy of a country leading sub-Saharan Africa in press freedom.
A ruling party parliamentarian’s hate speech and death threats against this journalist and some of his colleagues did not lead to any sanctions,” he said.