Controversial Ahmed Suale Murder Case Dropped

Attorney General Drops Ahmed Suale Murder Case; Defence Lawyer Slams Investigation Lapses

The long-running criminal case involving Daniel Owusu Koranteng, a key suspect in the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, has officially been discontinued by the Attorney General’s Department, bringing an end to a contentious chapter in Ghana’s legal and media landscape.

The Accra High Court on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, struck out the charges after Chief Inspector Nana Afua Bamfoa Bamfo confirmed in court that the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, had directed that the case be dropped.

The murder of Ahmed Suale in January 2019 shocked Ghana and the global press community. Suale, a key investigator with Tiger Eye PI, led by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was shot at close range in Madina shortly after participating in high-profile undercover work, including the Number 12 documentary that exposed corruption in Ghanaian football.

The case has since become symbolic of the ongoing threats to journalist safety in West Africa and the challenges of resolving high-profile crimes.

Following the court’s decision, Emma Jean Markin, legal counsel for Daniel Owusu Koranteng, expressed relief but criticised the manner in which her client was treated during the process.

“If proper investigations had been done early on, it would have been evident that my client had remained in the country the entire time even receiving medical treatment,” Ms. Markin told the press after the hearing.

She further accused law enforcement of prematurely targeting Koranteng without adequate evidence, pointing out that unlike other suspects, he was publicly paraded, leading to reputational damage and distress for his family.

Suale was killed by unknown assailants while driving near his residence, just months after his identity had been revealed on national television. His assassination sparked:

• Local and international condemnation, including from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and human rights advocates.
• Calls for stronger protective measures for journalists in Ghana.
• Pressure on law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation.

Despite multiple arrests over the years, no one has been successfully prosecuted in connection with the killing.

While the Attorney General’s directive effectively halts proceedings against Koranteng, no public explanation has yet been offered detailing why the case was dropped. Legal analysts speculate that lack of conclusive evidence and procedural concerns may have influenced the decision.

The AG’s Department has not ruled out reopening the case should new evidence emerge.

Ghana, once ranked as one of Africa’s safest countries for journalists, has seen its press freedom index decline in recent years. According to Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Ghana ranked 62nd globally, a drop from 27th in 2018, the year before Suale’s murder.

The unresolved case continues to cast a shadow over Ghana’s record on journalist safety, with critics pointing to a pattern of intimidation and impunity.

Local organisations such as the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and MFWA (Media Foundation for West Africa) have consistently called for justice in the Suale case and urged reforms to protect investigative journalists from threats, harassment, and violence.

With the case now dismissed, legal experts suggest that:

• The Attorney General’s office may shift focus to re-evaluating other leads or suspects.
• Civil society organisations are expected to renew calls for an independent inquiry into the murder.
• Pressure may mount on Parliament and security agencies to introduce journalist protection legislation.

There is also renewed concern over the state of criminal investigations in high-profile cases, especially where political or public interest is involved.

The discontinuation of the case against Daniel Owusu Koranteng may offer him personal relief, but it leaves critical questions unanswered about the murder of Ahmed Suale. As Ghana continues to position itself as a democratic beacon in West Africa, this case serves as a reminder that justice must not only be done but be seen to be done, especially when the freedom of the press and public trust in law enforcement are at stake.

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