The Chairman of the three-member ministerial committee set up to probe the Ejura disturbances, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, says that Multimedia Group Limited’s journalist,;Erastus Asare Donkor’s evidence during the public sitting will help in the final report which will be presented to the Interior Minister after completion.
In an interaction with the media at the end of the committee’s public sitting today, Friday, July 16, 2021,;he intimated that the Journalist during the probe was very instrumental with providing the committee with evidence.
Mr. Koomson was of the view that anybody who has described the evidence given by Mr. Asare Donkor as ‘stupid’ was only expressing a personal opinion.
“Who decides what is stupid? We, as a committee,;are a fact-finding committee and we have not come out to say that anyone’s evidence is stupid or is irrelevant. So, whoever will describe a piece of evidence as stupid or irrelevant, it is the person’s own opinion.
“Erastus gave evidence,;a lot of evidence, video and apart from that,;I think he appeared before us [and] gave oral testimony and I don’t think none of his evidence looks stupid. The fact is that we are a fact-finding committee; and we don’t just accept things like this is what I have for you. We have to inquire where we don’t understand certain issues.”
Justice Koomson
Media must be receptive of criticism
He further intimated that the media must be receptive to criticism;just like any other group that appeared before the ministerial committee over the nine-day period.
“One thing I have observed is that, the media especially Ghanaian media,;when people question some of your acts, it does not mean they want to embarrass you or ridicule you. No!
“Anyone who comes testifies and we ask questions,;if a media man comes to testify, he will be subjected to some form of questioning. That doesn’t mean that you are being ridiculed. Whoever thinks that the committee tried to ridicule any media personality I will assure them no…”
Justice Koomson
Committee will put together recommendations
Moreover, the chairman of the committee,;informed the media that it was thorough in its work and said the committee will put together recommendations to be presented.
“In all 22 witnesses appeared before us but three of them because of security reasons provided evidence in camera,;also 117 videos, 555 pictures, and three documents were received by the committee as evidence and now;we will sit, write our report together with recommendations and present it to the interior minister next week.”
Justice Koomson
Justice Koomson also indicated that the committee members will be open-minded in its report;and recommendations to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery.
“Erastus provided us with testimony and evidence crucial to our work and we do not consider it as stupid,;indeed we value every evidence that came before and we will examine them and come to a conclusion.”
Justice Koomson
