Body of Syed Taalay British journalist killed in Ghana to be repatriated

The body of British journalist Syed Taalay Ahmed, 31, from Hartlepool, was working for Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International (MTA) killed by armed robbers while on a reporting trip to Ghana is being repatriated on Wednesday.

Mr. Ahmed left behind a wife and two children.

The young journalist was filming a documentary when armed robbers ambushed him and his crew, as they traveled on a major highway last week.

A Police statement said the reporter and another victim were traveling in a Toyota Hiace vehicle with registration number GT 7405- 16 when they were attacked between Mpaha Junction and Sarikyekura on the Buipe-Tamale Highway on Monday.

“On reaching a section of the road at Sarikyekura, a number of armed men suddenly emerged from the bush and opened fire at the vehicle, deflating some of the vehicle’s tyres in the process and forcing the vehicle to stop. Some of the bullets penetrated the vehicle and hit the two, who sustained gunshot wounds in the process. The armed men then robbed them of their mobile phones and an unspecified amount of money and fled,” the police said.

The reporter and the other victim Omaru Abdul Hakim were rushed to the Buipe polyclinic but were rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

MTA International paid tribute to the journalist saying “most devoted and sincere member of our MTA News team…. lost his life whilst traveling abroad in Ghana on duty in the service of Islam.”

MTA International (or MTA), formerly known as Ahmadiyya Muslim Presentation, is a globally-broadcasting, nonprofit satellite television network and a division of Al-Shirkatul Islamiyyah which was established in 1992 and launched the world’s first Islamic TV channel to broadcasting globally. It consists of nine international channels that are run and funded entirely from donations by the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

The Ghana police say they’ve killed two suspects and arrested four others. They also recovered weapons and stolen items from the robbers.

The police said in a statement that the gang was suspected of being behind several other violent attacks.

Highway robberies are becoming increasingly common across the country.