Journalist Shot Dead

George Abanga aka King George
A 35-year-old reporter with Success Fm in Goaso in the Asunafo North District of the Brong-Ahafo Region and correspondent for Peace Fm, George Abanga alias King George, has allegedly been shot dead by unknown assailants between Kukuom and Kwapong. The dastardly act took place last Thursday.

King George, according to Success Fm news editor, Atiewin Mohammed, had wanted to check on a news story at Sankore where some cocoa mass sprayers and fertilizer distributors tasked to spray farmers' cocoa farms were agitating for their unpaid salaries.

Upon reaching between Kukuom and Kwapong on a motorbike, he was allegedly shot on the left arm, close to the shoulder pad, and died on the spot.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE on telephone, the Brong Ahafo Regional police crime officer, Supt Alahaji Mahama Arhin, said the police suspected armed robbery attack but with the deceased's belongings intact, it could be taken as murder.

The journalist, at the time of his death, had on him a wallet containing GH¢160, two mobile phones and his motorbike; but none of those were taken away.

However, journalists and editors of the station DAILY GUIDE spoke to suspected foul play, saying, 'practising journalism in the Ahafo part of the region is terrible.'

Mr Atiewin Mohammed said he did not believe the police story but suspected that a story George Abanga did recently indicating that some National Democratic Congress (NDC) card-bearing members from Asibrem in the Asunafo South District demanded the sack of the DCE, Atta Bosompem, and other party executives else they would quit the party, might have been the cause of his murder.

In that story, about 1000 members of the NDC held a press conference at Kukuom and gave the President, John Dramani Mahama, a one-week ultimatum to sack the DCE.

This story, according to sources, did not go down well with some NDC members at Asunafo South and might have caused the death of the newsman.

But until the police have finished their investigations the cause of King George's death is hinged on suspicion.

King George worked with Success Fm for 10 years and is survived   by a wife and a child. So far nobody has been arrested.

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From Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani