ATWAG Condemns Policemen Assaulting Blogger At Bhim Concert

Arts And Tourism Writers Association Of Ghana (ATWAG) release a statement over the assault. Over the weekend, three policemen assaulted Sammy Kay, a blogger and producer with the Despite Media group

The statement gives a full account of the incident that happened. Moreover, they stated categorically that they dislike such acts of brutalizes of the police against its members.

Read the full statement by ATWAG over assault on Sammy Kay

It has become necessary, as an association, to react to an incident that happened yesterday at Stonebwoy‘s Bhim Concert. This is about a fracas between ATWAG member, Sammy Kay and some police officers at the concert at 11:26 pm.

ATWAG investigations revealed that Sammy Kay was filming footballer, Asamoah Gyan and television personality, Efia Odo. However, a police officer asked him to stop and delete the video.

Our information is that the order to stop filming and delete the recording did not come from Asamoah Gyan nor his manager.

Sammy Kay, therefore, did not yield to the officer’s orders. Rather, he told him that he had a good relationship with Gyan. Therefore, the footballer would not be bothered if he was filmed.

The police officer still went ahead and attacked Sammy Kay. This led to a scuffle between the policeman (together with his other colleagues) and Sammy Kay, which got the latter injured.

He rushed to the Emergency Ward at the 37 Military Hospital.

Kwame Dadzie, the Public Relations Officer of ATWAG, together with two other media colleagues followed up to the hospital, helped him get a folder, did x-ray and bought some drugs for him.

He was discharged from the hospital around 4 am today (Saturday).

More of the statement

ATWAG, as a professional body, is taking steps to liaise with the employers of Sammy Kay (the Despite Group of Companies) to see how best to handle the matter.

That notwithstanding, the association (ATWAG) condemns acts by civilians or security personnel who have the tendency to either harm or muzzle individuals in the media fraternity.

The attack was unprovoked during our member’s line of work and we condemn it in no uncertain terms.

Reports of police officers brutalizing citizens in their line of duty in recent times have become rampant. Therefore, we would like to call on the government and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to bring an end to it.

Thank you.