The Madina Magistrates’ Court has remanded Daniel Owusu Koranteng, the Managing Director of ISPY Company, in custody as a suspect in the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
His provisional charge of murder, in connection with the long-unsolved assassination, has reignited concerns about the safety of journalists in Ghana.
Koranteng, also known as Akwase Amakye, is the first person to be arrested in connection with Suale’s death and could be key to identifying those responsible for the brutal killing.
On January 16, 2019, armed assailants fatally shot Ahmed Hussein-Suale near his family home in Madina.
A member of the Tiger Eye PI investigative team, Suale was believed to have been targeted for his work with the BBC on an exposé uncovering corruption in African football. His murder, which gained widespread international attention, highlighted the dangers faced by investigative journalists in Ghana.
A joint investigation by the FBI and local law enforcement led to Koranteng’s arrest.
According to police sources, crucial evidence—including phone logs—revealed communications between Koranteng and Suale in the days leading up to the murder.
Police prosecutors informed the court that their initial findings placed Koranteng near Suale’s residence on the night of the killing.
Although Koranteng admitted to taking photographs of Suale, he denied selling them to prominent Ghanaian politician Kennedy Agyapong.
Agyapong, the former Assin Central MP, had previously displayed Suale’s images on national television, urging his supporters to attack him if they encountered him.
The prosecution further revealed that Suale’s lawyer had identified Koranteng as the individual who sold the photos to Agyapong.
Koranteng’s defense lawyer, Kofi Essel, dismissed the charges as “shambolic,” arguing that there was no substantial evidence to support them.
He requested bail for his client, asserting that the accusations were unfounded.
Magistrate Suzzy Nyakotey postponed the case until April 1 to allow further investigations.
During the hearing, the court raised a critical question: could the sale of photographs alone be sufficient grounds for a murder charge?
As investigations continue, authorities remain hopeful that Koranteng’s arrest will lead to further breakthroughs and, ultimately, justice for Ahmed Suale.
