The Ghana Police Service has arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale. The suspect, identified as Daniel Owusu Koranteng, also known as Akwasi Amakye, is a close friend of the deceased. He is accused of betraying Suale by sharing his photographs with a well-known politician in Ghana prior to the murder. Sources indicate that Amakye had a close relationship with Ahmed Suale, having worked together at Tiger Eye Private Investigations before Amakye’s dismissal.
The two individuals were known to have collaborated on several investigative projects, making Amakye’s betrayal a shocking turn of events. A source close to the police Criminal Investigation Department revealed, “The suspect used to visit the deceased, who was a close friend, at his residence in Madina.” Ahmed Suale was murdered on January 16, 2019, near his family home in Madina, after he worked with the BBC on an investigative story that exposed widespread corruption in African football, particularly in Ghana.
FBI collaboration
The investigation led to the extraction of important information by the FBI in the USA, including phone calls between the suspect and the deceased, days before his death. The arrest of Ahmed Suale’s suspected killer has brought some relief to the family and colleagues of the slain journalist. However, the investigation is still ongoing and it remains to be seen how the case will unfold. The Ghana Police Service has come under scrutiny for its handling of the case, with many questioning the delay in making an arrest.
GJA ultimatum
In January this year, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) issued a two-month ultimatum to the Ghana Police Service to bring significant progress to the investigation and the prosecution of those responsible for the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale. The GJA warned that failure to do so by the end of March 2025 would compel the association to escalate the matter to the ECOWAS Court of Justice and other international bodies.
At a news conference in Accra, the GJA President, Albert Dwumfour, expressed deep frustration over the lack of progress in the case which has dragged on for six years without any arrests. “Another case that has baffled the nation and, indeed, the international community over the years is the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale. It is very unfortunate and disappointing that six years after the murder of Ahmed Suale, no arrest has been made. What is even more disheartening is the lackadaisical police investigations into the murder,” Mr Dwumfour lamented.
Disturbing revelations
He further highlighted a disturbing revelation made in February 2024 by the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, that his office had not received any prosecution-ready docket from the police regarding the case, then five years after the incident.
Adding to the concern, Mr Dwumfour referenced recent comments by the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare-Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, who claimed to have provided the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) with information about the suspected killers.
A-Plus also threatened to publicly reveal the suspect’s name if the police failed to act. “These developments have raised serious questions about the willingness of the Police to resolve this matter,” the GJA president stated. The association has vowed to continue pushing for justice for Ahmed Suale and his family, and to hold the Ghana Police Service accountable for its handling of the case.
The arrest of Ahmed Suale’s suspected killer is a significant development in a case that has sparked widespread outrage and concern about the safety of journalists in Ghana. As the investigation continues, many are watching closely to see if justice will finally be served.
By: Suleiman Mustapha
