ATWAG Statement on Assault of Sammy Kay

ATTACK ON ATWAG MEMBER, SAMUEL KUMAH BY POLICE OFFICERS AT BHIM CONCERT

Saturday, December 29, 2018

It has become necessary, as an association, to react to an incident that happened yesterday at Stonebwoy’s “Bhim Concert” at the Fantasy Dome, regarding a fracas between ATWAG member, Samuel Kumah, known in showbiz circles as Sammy Kay and some police officers at 11:26pm.

ATWAG investigations have revealed that Sammy Kay was filming footballer, Asamoah Gyan and television personality, Efia Odo when 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, and rather told him that he had a good relationship with Gyan so the footballer would not be bothered if he was filmed.

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

He was 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 4am today (Saturday).

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

While we work hard to foster a good relationship between ATWAG in particular and the media in general, and the security services, we will continue to resist any attempt by any individual or group to prevent us from performing our lawful duties.

Thank you.

Signed: Kwame Dadzie (PRO, ATWAG)

Tel: 0242778469