The Managing Director of ISPY Company, Daniel Owusu Koranteng, has been remanded in custody by the Madina Magistrates’ Court as a suspect in the murder of undercover journalist Ahmed Suale.
He faces a provisional charge of murder in connection with the assassination that has remained unresolved for years, raising significant concerns about the safety of journalists in Ghana.
Mr. Koranteng, affectionately known as Akwase Amakye, is the first individual to be arrested concerning Suale’s death and could play a key role in uncovering the identities of those behind the cold-blooded killing.
Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot and killed by armed men near his family home in Madina on January 16, 2019.
A member of the Tiger Eye PI group, he had collaborated with the BBC on an investigative report that exposed corruption in African football, which is believed to have made him a target.
His murder drew widespread international attention, highlighting the risks faced by investigative journalists in Ghana.
Mr. Koranteng’s arrest follows an extensive investigation led by the FBI in the United States, in collaboration with local law enforcement.
According to police sources, this investigation uncovered vital evidence, including phone records that show communication between Koranteng and Suale in the days leading up to the killing.
Police prosecutors informed the court that their preliminary findings suggest Koranteng was in the neighborhood of Suale’s home on the night of the murder.
While Koranteng has admitted to taking photographs of Suale, he denies selling these images to Kennedy Agyapong, a prominent Ghanaian politician.
Mr Agyapong had previously displayed the photos on national television, urging his followers to attack Suale if they encountered him.
Furthermore, the prosecution revealed that Suale’s lawyer had identified Koranteng as the person who sold the photographs to Agyapong, the former Member of Parliament for Assin Central.
Mr. Koranteng’s defense lawyer, Kofi Essel, described the provisional charge as “shambolic” and argued that the allegations did not constitute solid evidence.
He requested that Mr Koranteng be granted bail, asserting that the case lacked substantial proof to justify the charge.
Magistrate Suzzy Nyakotey adjourned the case until April 1 to allow further investigations to proceed. During the hearing, the court raised a crucial question: whether the sale of photographs alone could provide sufficient grounds to charge someone with murder.
As the investigation continues, authorities are hopeful that Koranteng’s arrest will lead to further breakthroughs and, ultimately, justice for Ahmed Suale.
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