06/08/2025
By Dominic Hlordzi
On that partly cloudy but dark day, Carlos Calony and the cameraman of JoyNews of the Multimedia Group calmly carried their camera, mic and phones to carry the news on the ongoing “deconstruction” of the warehouse on a disputed land on the Spintex Road.
Little did they know that they, rather than transmitting the news, would become the news. The news makers are now the news themselves.
A soldier decided to change the ideal order to make the reporter the news.
Beaten, arrested, removed from the scene and driven to a detention-house.
What was Mr. Calony’s crime?
The dictionary defines crime as ” an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law.”
Detailed breakdown:
Action or Omission:
Crimes can be actions taken (like stealing).
Against the Law:
A key element is that the action or omission must be prohibited by law, whether it’s a statute, a regulation, or common law.
Harm or Damage :
Crimes often involve causing harm to someone (e.g., assault), damaging property (e.g., vandalism), or causing loss to someone (e.g., theft).
Punishment:
The legal system provides for punishments for crimes, ranging from fines and community service (in some jurisdictions) to imprisonment.
So I ask, what was Mr. Calony’s crime? And what were the legal parameters for the uniformed officer to take the law into his own hands?
Journalism: Never a Crime
From dawn to dusk every day, the Ghanaian journalists labour to fulfil three cardinal constitutionally guaranteed duties: inform, educate and entertain.
All in a business of contributing their quota to the building of a beautiful and progressive Ghana that all well-meaning citizens envisioned.
In the beautiful tapestry of Ghanaian life, the journalist stands, not as an intruder, but as a critical thread, weaving the narratives that glue society together.