National Security Operatives lied; I was beaten – Modern Ghana editor

Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri, editor of Modern Ghana has rubbished claims by Office of National Security denying the fact that, he was tortured during his arrest. 

Mr Abugri, who was arrested together with Mr Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum, a reporter, on Monday, 1 July 2019 said that he was tortured and beaten by National Security operatives while in detention following a raid of their office.

In view of that, the Office of National Security denied the claims of torturing.

In a statement, the office said: “The Secretariat takes a very serious view of the claims of torturing, and wishes to state, in no uncertain terms that these allegations are false. We consider it to be a clear and deliberate attempt by the suspect to discredit the investigations and the case against him. Torture and manhandling of suspects are not part and parcel of the culture and architecture of the secretariat under the administration of President Akufo-Addo.

“We wish to categorically state that the suspect during questioning, was never manhandled, neither was he subjected to any form of forced physical contact.”

However Mr. Ajarfor responding to the denial from National Security Office on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM with host Bernard Avle said, he was physically assaulted and his privacy violated by the forceful seizure of some of his electronic gadgets.

”Bernard, I won’t lie on this matter for anything. They covered my head including my reporter with a Rubber bag. Before we realized, we were at their office then the interrogation started. To be frank with you, every question they asked came with a slap. Is either the slap before the question or after.

”I was handcuffed, beaten and assaulted several times by the security personnel’s. Their aim for the several beatings was on the fact that, two stories was published at modernghana.com by one Constance Kwabeng and because he was unable to be found, meaning I was the one.” he indicated.