I�ll Never Disclose My Source�Not Even At Gunpoint - Kweku Baako

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, has categorically stated that he will rather risk going to jail than reveal the source of his story. According to him, not even when a gun is pointed at his head, will he ever disclose his sources. He was commenting on the alleged civil banter that ensued between him and two personnel from the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters who undertook what turned out to be a wild goose to his office to perhaps hunt for the �okro mouth� who leaked Woyome�s police statement to the paper. But Mr Baako is reported to have given the security operatives a lecture on the code of ethics of journalism without giving out his source. The New Crusading Guide had published on Tuesday a scan copy of a 4page hand written caution statement by beleaguered NDC guru, Alfred Woyome to Police CID investigators in the wake of his first arrest and subsequent charging with the offence of conspiracy to commit fraud and defrauding by false pretences and corruption of public officer. The publication was headlined: �Woyome�s Case Against State�Ample Evidence Existed That Political Executives Were Dealing With Me And I Did Not Conceal Any Document Or Information From Them�The A-G With Her Eyes Wide Open Signed Settlement Agreement�. Recounting what actually happened to listeners on �Kokrokoo�, Peace FM�s flagship programme, Mr Baako disclosed that two gentlemen from the Police CID office, Detective Chief Inspector Charles Adaba and Corporal Prince Gyamera sought to know from him the source of the story, but he told them plainly �It�s not possible. It is a mission impossible that you are embarking on.� �I knew they (police) would have a problem with that and so we were alert. Two gentlemen from the CID office came to me and said they wanted to find out the source of the Woyome story and I told them it is not possible. I told them that it was a mission impossible because no journalist would disclose a source; even our code of ethics does not allow that. If you do that, you breach confidentiality. The whole profession is brought into disrepute if one discloses source, otherwise sources can no longer trust journalists�� he said. The seasoned journalist pointed out that people should not consider him as being bossy or �Mr. know it all� because �there is no journalist in this country or elsewhere who will disclose the source of his story�, adding it is against the ethics of the profession. He was however pained that colleague journalists seemed to back the action by the police to make him disclose his sources. �In any case, I am fully responsible for what has happened; I am the editor in chief and so I take full responsibility for what has happened. I told them (CID) that I will cooperate with them to the level that I feel it is necessary but not to disclose my source to them. It can never happen. Even at gunpoint, it can�t happen and it will never ever happen. If I will have to go to prison I will go rather than tell people my source. Others feel that I stole those documents and I wonder why because they are also journalists who have also intercepted documents before. It is pathetic�� he added.