More Threats On Gina Blay

For the third time in less than a week, the life of Mrs. Gina Blay, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Western Publications, publishers of DAILY GUIDE, has been threatened.

Apart from the threats to end her life on her return from an official assignment in Japan, there are plots in the offing to burn down her press house at Nima, a suburb of Accra.

This threat followed two previous ones directed to her through SMS text.

The latest, more chilling than previous ones, and which was sent through a text message at exactly 9.27am on Saturday 5th July via MTN number 024-7940564, was relayed through the Deputy Editor.

“So Gina Blay is going to waste our money in Japan. Tell her on her arrival that bad news will greet her, da burning down of her press hse n da death of her informant.

Dis is not an empty threat, tell her, she will be the next to pay with her life. Da N. Security cannot protect her. AHUYAH”, the message read.

Apart from the allegation that she was 'a waste', no other reason was given for the intention to kill her and burn down the press house.

Even though 'AHUYAH' failed to name the purported informant, he (or she?) downplayed the importance of the National Security apparatus, to whom earlier threats were reported.

However the tone of the threat indicated that the group had been responsible for the deaths of others in the past.

It would be recalled that similar threats, which were sent to her three days earlier, were carried by the Daily Graphic and Statesman newspapers.

A caller, who identified himself as Gajekpo, and claimed to be a soldier in the Ghana Armed Forces, said his threat was provoked by DAILY GUIDE's coverage of former President Jerry John Rawlings' press conference at his North Ridge residence in Accra.

Gajekpo wrote: “May you be reminded, you fool that we know all the killers and transporters of dead women into the country eight years ago.

You work for them. Shameless woman. One more thing, since you know so much, who masterminded the torture and killing of Issa Mobila? Where are the killers? Just Watch. Fool”.

The threats went further: “If you think you know so much to the extent of knowing about the killings over 26 years ago, why not talk about your VP and others who planned and killed the Yaa Naa and others. Fu”.

Mrs. Blay had since made official complaints over the earlier threats to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), President of the World Association of Newspapers, and flagbearers of the major political parties in the country including the National Democratic Congress (NDC) founded by Rawlings.

Series of threats began to fly across the country, following the sentencing of Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata to a five-year jail term. At least one Supreme Court Judge was threatened a week earlier for that reason.

In a related development, a high profile politician was also threatened on phone over the weekend.

The caller, with cell phone number 00226-76383595, yelled to the politician, “If you cherish your life, stop that nonsense you are doing”.

Incidentally, when the politician later called the number with another cell phone, the recipient spoke Hausa.

The latest threat on the life of the DAILY GUIDE Managing Editor is yet to be communicated to her.