DAKAR (Reuters) - Gunmen in Ghana killed an investigative journalist who had helped uncover corruption in football, rights groups and his employer said on Thursday.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalist who was killed by gunmen, is pictured in this handout photograph obtained by Reuters on January 18, 2019. Hussein-Suale Family/ Handout via REUTERS

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot three times by men on a motorbike while driving home from work on Wednesday in the capital Accra, said his production company Tiger Eye PI.

“We ... are terribly devastated by this dastardly act, but remain unshaken in our resolve to make ... corruption a high-risk activity in this country,” it said in a statement.

Hussein-Suale was part of a team led by well-known undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Their crew is famous for a documentary last year that accused 77 referees and Ghana’s then soccer chief Kwesi Nyantakyi of taking bribes.

The film prompted Ghana to dissolve its Football Association. Nyantakyi was suspended by world soccer’s governing body FIFA and stepped down shortly after, apologizing for what he called his “indiscretion”.

The killing came as a shock in Ghana, whose vibrant press enjoys relative freedom compared to many African nations.

“I expect the police to bring to book, as soon as possible, the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” said President Afuko-Addo on Twitter.

Ghana’s police and government officials were not immediately available for further comment.

Ghana is ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in a world press freedom index compiled by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is Africa’s highest ranking.

But “this shooting is a grave signal that journalists cannot work safely to keep the public informed or hold power to account in Ghana,” said the Committee to Protect Journalists, another press freedom group based in the United States.

The killing came after a campaign of abuse against the documentary team. After its airing, government legislator Kennedy Agyapong called Hussein-Suale “dangerous”, shared photos of him and told viewers he would pay for them to “beat him”.

He was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

Anas, who covers his face in public for safety reasons, posted about the death on his Facebook and Twitter feed.

“Sad news, but we shall not be silenced,” he said.

“Rest in peace, Ahmed.”</s>ACCRA, Ghana (AP) An investigative journalist in Ghana who helped expose a high-ranking official at world soccer body FIFA as corrupt was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike as he drove home alone at night, police said Thursday.

His employers said he was assassinated.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was killed late Wednesday, shot twice in the chest and once in the neck at close range while driving in the suburb of Accra where he lived. He died immediately, according to police.

Tiger Eye PI, the investigative journalism house Hussein-Suale worked for, said it had the hallmarks of a professional hit.

“We call on the security agencies to unmask the elements behind this assassination and bring them to book,” Tiger Eye PI said.

Police haven’t announced any arrests. Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo condemned the killing and said he expected police to arrest the perpetrators of the “heinous crime” as soon as possible.

Hussein-Suale worked under the leadership of Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a renowned Ghanaian investigative journalist once singled out and praised by former U.S. President Barack Obama as courageous and who has used undercover television documentaries to expose graft and organized crime in Ghana and across Africa.

Anas, who himself has gone undercover to investigate issues like human trafficking and corruption among Ghanaian judges, appears in public wearing elaborate, multicolored veils over his face to protect his identity. The veils allow him to work without being recognized but also help to avoid reprisals.

Anas confirmed Hussein-Suale’s death on Facebook: “Sad news, but we shall not be silenced. Rest in peace.”

The team’s most recent work focused on exposing corruption in African soccer, which they portray as a murky world of backroom meetings where coaches, referees and even the most senior officials can be bribed to fix games or hand out favors.

The team got one of its biggest scoops when it caught Kwesi Nyantakyi, a member of world soccer’s FIFA Council and the second most powerful man in African soccer at the time, taking a bribe of $65,000 from their undercover reporters, who were posing as unethical businessmen. Nyantakyi smiles as he stuffs the wads of cash into a black plastic bag and agrees to use his position as president of the Ghanaian Football Association to help the businessmen – for a cut of their profits.

Nyantakyi resigned from all of his roles and was banned from soccer for life last year for bribery, corruption and conflict of interest as a result of the documentary.

The film also alleged widespread corruption among other officials, referees and coaches, and the entire Ghana Football Association was shut down by Ghana’s president as a result. The Confederation of African Football, the continent’s top soccer body, banned or suspended nearly two dozen referees and officials because of Anas’ team’s work.

Tiger Eye PI said Hussein-Suale’s last project for it was the soccer documentary. It didn’t say what other projects he was involved in for them. The BBC said Hussein-Suale worked with it on various projects, including an investigation into human body parts sold for ritual magic in Malawi.

Some of the methods used by Anas’ team have been questioned and stoked criticism, particularly the tactic of reporters posing as others to trap possibly corrupt figures. The methods have been denounced as illegal by some, including Nyantakyi, who said he will appeal his life ban from soccer.

Hussein-Suale’s killing also brought attention to comments made on television by a Ghanaian politician and businessman after the Nyantakyi scandal broke. Kennedy Agyapong, a member of parliament, appeared on his own television station to single out and denounce Hussein-Suale as “dangerous” and call for members of the public to assault the journalist up if they came across him.

Ranting and shouting into the camera, Agyapong said: “That boy (Ahmed-Hussein) that’s very dangerous, he lives here in Madina. If you meet him somewhere, break his ears. If he ever comes to this premises, I’m telling you, beat him. Whatever happens, I’ll pay because he’s bad, that Ahmed.”

The station also broadcast photographs of Hussein-Suale, apparently revealing his identity. Agyapong, in comments made on Ghanaian radio on Thursday, denied any involvement in the killing.

But in his Facebook message paying tribute to Hussein-Suale, and saying his team will not be silenced, Anas also posted a link to that Agyapong video.

“We … remain unshaken in our resolve to pursue nation-wreckers and make corruption a high-risk activity in the country,” Tiger Eye PI said. “Ahmed was an excellent, experienced investigative journalist.”</s>Undercover investigator and a key member of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye Private Investigatons team, Ahmed Hussein-Suale has been shot dead.

According to reports from Ghana, Ahmed was shot three times, twice in the chest and another in the neck late on Wednesday night at Madina in Accra while driving home by unidentified men riding motorbike

His employer, Anas confirmed the sad development and loss of a core team member to Graphic Online, saying Ahmed was one of Tiger Eye journalists whose photographs the member of parliament for Assign South, Kennedy Agyapong circulated in his ‘who watches the watchman’ anti-Anas video documentary and called on the public to deal with for a handsome reward.

“He was just shot and killed, nothing was taken from him”, said another devastated member of the Anas team, who added that the body has been taken to the Police Hospital Morgue and that he could be buried as soon as possible in keeping with Islamic rites.

Also, Like us on facebook</s>
• Nana Akufo-Addo has called on the Ghana Police to investigate the death of Ahmed Hussein-Suale and bring the perpetrators to book.
• In a Facebook post, Mr Akufo-Addo commiserated with the family of the deceased.
• President Akufo-Addo condemned the killing saying this must not happen again.

Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has condemned the assassination of an investigative journalist who is a partner of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye PI.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was killed on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at Madina in the Greater Accra Region.

Commiserating with the family of the deceased, Nana Akufo-Addo called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.

In a Facebook post, Nana Akufo-Addo said “I’ve learnt with sadness, the killing of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an associate of investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. I condemn the act unreservedly and extend my condolences to his family. I expect the police to bring to book, as soon as possible, the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Once again, my heartfelt condolences.”

In a Facebook post announcing Ahmed Hussein-Suale's death, Anas said two gunmen on a motorbike shot into the car Ahmed was driving.

Anas added that the deceased was shot three times; twice in the chest and once in the neck after which he died on the spot.

This is coming after the deceased Ahmed Hussein-Suale, was exposed by the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong following the #Number12 exposé on corruption in Ghana football.

According to his colleagues, nothing was stolen from him.</s>Unknown gunmen have shot and killed a Ghanaian investigative journalist who helped to expose a massive corruption scandal in the country's national football leagues, a family member says.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was killed while driving his car near his home in the Madina neighbourhood of the capital Accra on Wednesday evening, cousin Musa Mohammed told German news agency dpa.

"A few minutes after he left the house, we heard gunshots and when we rushed out, we saw him in his car," Mohammed said.

"He was shot twice in the chest and [once] in the neck."

Mohammed said the family was devastated.

"He was a journalist who was just doing his work to expose corrupt people," he said.

Hussein-Suale belonged to Tiger Eye Private Investigations, a team led by award-winning journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, whose reporting led to the banning of various football referees and officials, including the president of the Ghana Football Association, last year.

Security agencies said they launched an investigation into the killing.</s>A Ghanaian undercover journalist who helped expose corruption in African football has been killed in the capital Accra, police said Thursday.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was part of a team led by award-winning journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, whose probe led to the resignation of the head of the Ghana Football Association.

Dozens of football referees and officials were also banned.

A police spokesperson told AFP the journalist was shot in the neck and the chest by unknown gunmen on his way home on Wednesday night.

Confirming the incident, Anas tweeted: “Sad news, but we shall not be silenced. Rest in peace, Ahmed.”

Prior to his death, Husein had made a complaint to police after his pictures were published on national television.

Ghana’s national media regulator condemned the killing and called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

“It will be in the national interest to arrest the perpetrators of this crime,” the commission’s chairman Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo said in a statement.

Ghanaian journalists condemned the killing of the 34-year-old reporter, who was instrumental in the international football corruption investigation which broke last year.

Football’s world governing body FIFA last October banned former Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi for life and fined him nearly $500,000 after he was seen on camera accepting bribes.

Nyantakyi was accused of requesting $11 million (9.3 million euros) to secure government contracts.

Eight referees and assistant referees were banned for life while 53 officials were subject to 10-year bans. Fourteen officials were exonerated.

The revelations rocked Ghana, where football is the national sport and which prides itself as being a stable democracy in an often turbulent region.</s>Investigative journalist Ahmed Husein has been shot dead in Accra by unknown assailants. He was killed as he was going home. Hussein had complained after a local TV station aired his photos.

A police spokesperson told AFP the journalist was shot in the neck and the chest by unknown gunmen on his way home on Wednesday night.

Journalists from Ghana have condemned the killing of Husein who was very instrumental in uncovering corruption.

He was one of the journalist that had highlighted the rot in African football that led to the resignation of the head of the Ghana Football Association and dozens of football referees and officials were also banned.

Anas confirmed the incident but said that they would not be silenced by the incident.

“Sad news, but we shall not be silenced. Rest in peace, Ahmed.” Anas wrote on Twitter.

FIFA last October banned former Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi for life and fined him nearly Sh Sh50 million. He had been seen on camera accepting bribes. He was punished alongside eight referees and 53 officials.

Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to [email protected] Also WhatsApp 0708677607 with your news tips</s>The Federation of International Football Association(FIFA) has expressed sadness over the death of Tiger Eye PI investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein Suale who was shot dead on Wednesday at Madina.

Ahmed Hussein Suale who was a key member of the Tiger Eye team which is headed by undercover Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas was gunned down by assailants on motorbike on Wednesday night while in his car.

Ahmed is said to have played a key role in the Number 12 documentary which exposed the rot in Ghana Football.



FIFA statement reads:



"FIFA has been extremely disturbed and saddened to hear the news that local journalist based in Ghana- Mr Ahmed Hussein Suale- was shot dead in Accra Yesterday".

"FIFA re-iterates its support for journalists doing important investigative work, which on many occasions leads to an improvement in government standards, not only in football but across the board in public life".



"FIFA also extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Ahmed Hussein Suale, and very much hopes that the perpetrators of this horrendous crime are caught soon by the relevant authorities".

 

Read also: Normalization Committee: This is how much Dr Kofi Amoah is paid by FIFA</s>ACCRA, Ghana — An investigative journalist whose work exposed deep-rooted corruption in African soccer and led to the downfall of a member of the sport’s high-powered FIFA Council was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike, police said Thursday.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was killed Wednesday night, with reports saying he was shot twice in the chest and once in the neck as he drove in a suburb of the capital, Accra.

Hussein-Suale was part of a reporting team led by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a renowned investigative journalist in Ghana who has used undercover television documentaries to expose corruption, most recently in soccer.

Anas confirmed Hussein-Suale’s death on Facebook, saying: “Sad news, but we shall not be silenced. Rest in peace.”

The journalists’ projects have sometimes exposed prominent and powerful figures and their biggest scoop came last year with FIFA Council member Kwesi Nyantakyi.

Nyantakyi was the head of Ghanaian soccer and the No. 2 official in African soccer when he was caught on TV camera by Anas’ team accepting a bribe of $65,000 and smiling as he stuffed the wads of cash into a black plastic bag.

Hussein-Suale was involved in that documentary, which was aired last May.

Nyantakyi resigned from all his roles as a result of the film and was later banned for life from the sport by the world governing body FIFA. He was found guilty of bribery, corruption and conflict of interest in a FIFA disciplinary case.

Nyantakyi was the biggest figure to be caught by the journalists but their film also claimed to uncover corruption across Ghanaian soccer, and in soccer in other African countries, with officials, referees and coaches accused of taking bribes for certain favors, sometimes to fix matches.

As a result of the scandal, the entire Ghana Football Association was shut down by Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo. The Confederation of African Football, the continent’s top body, banned or suspended nearly two dozen referees and officials as a result of Anas’ team’s work.

While the undercover reporting team’s most recent projects have centered on soccer and the sport’s murky world of bribery and corruption, they have worked in other areas.

Anas’ 2015 documentary “Ghana in the Eyes of God” claimed to show dozens of judges willing to take bribes to influence court judgments. Many of the judges were removed from office.

It wasn’t clear if Hussein-Suale worked on that project but he was a key member of the team that investigated soccer. The BBC said Hussein-Suale also worked with them on various projects, including an investigation into human body parts sold for ritual magic in Malawi.

Some of the methods used by Anas’ team have been questioned and stoked criticism, particularly the tactic of reporters using disguises and posing as others to trap possibly corrupt figures. The methods have been denounced as illegal by some, including Nyantakyi, who said he will appeal his life ban from soccer.</s>Private investigative firm, Tiger Eye PI has said it is terribly devastated by the chilling murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale but remains resolute in uncovering wrongdoing in society.

Ahmed Hussein, who worked closely with ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was shot by gunmen on a motorbike Wednesday night while in his car driving home.

He was shot three times, twice in the chest and another in the neck. The body has since been conveyed to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra.

In a statement commiserating with the family of the slain undercover journalist, Tiger Eye PI said: “We at Tiger Eye PI are terribly devastated by the dastardly act, but remain unshaken in our resolve to pursue nation-wreckers and make corruption a high-risk activity in the country.”

The killing of Ahmed comes months after his picture was brandished on TV by a member of parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong during the airing of his anti-Anas documentary ‘who watches the watchman’ and called on the public to attack him as he was ready to face the consequences.

Below is the full statement from Tiger EYE PI

Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalist and team member of Tiger Eye PI was last night assassinated at Madina by two gunmen on a motorbike while driving home. The two unidentified men fled after shooting Ahmed at close range, twice in the chest and once in the neck, killing him instantly according to Police investigators at Madina. The body has since been conveyed to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra.

We commiserate with Ahmed’s family on this painful loss and pray that Allah will give them the strength to bear the grief.

We at Tiger Eye PI are terribly devastated by the dastardly act but remain unshaken in our resolve to pursue nation-wreckers and make corruption a high-risk activity in the country.

We call on the security agencies to unmask the elements behind this assassination and bring them to book.

Tiger Eye P. I. is an award-winning investigative organization based in Accra, Ghana. It is headed by multiple awards wining investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Our ultimate mission is to uncover the truth wherever it may be and to name, shame and jail the purveyors of crime in our society. Ahmed was an excellent experienced investigative journalist with our team. His last assignment was Number12 (#12) that exposed bribery and corruption and commissions in African football.

We are looking forward to Islamic burial.
Gunmen on motorbikes shoot Ghanaian investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale to death in Accra. Ahmed was a member of the Tiger Eye Private Investigations team that exposed high-level corruption in the Ghana Football Association.