The class media journalist, Samuel Addo, who was assaulted by unidentified fire personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), has officially filed a police report providing details on the attack.

His assault happened during an official assignment for a follow-up coverage of a fire outbreak at the Kasoa New Market, which started on Sunday, January 4.

According to him, he was overpowered by a group of fire officers when he made attempts to take a video of the officers beating a suspected thief at the fire scene. A lone officer first approached him. After Addo identified himself as a member of the media, the officer walked away, only to return minutes later with about ten colleagues, who he says,

“... held my neck, pulled my hands behind my back, and assaulted me. They took my phone, tore my belt, and took both away,” he stated.

According to him, his mobile phone was later returned following the intervention of the area’s Member of Parliament (MP), Phyllis Naa Koryor; however, more than half of the money he had been carrying prior to the incident was missing.

Mr Addo stated that he arrived at the fire scene with GH¢20,000 but later realised that GH¢10,200 had gone missing, leaving him with just GH¢8,000.

“The money is still missing. I have reported everything to the police,” he added.

The journalist has been issued a police medical form and is seeking hospital treatment for his injuries.

About the Kasoa New Market fire

Ghana recorded over 3,595 fire incidents nationwide in the first half of 2025, with regional breakdowns showing hundreds of cases across the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Central Regions.

Barely a week into the New Year, some Kasoa residents had their stalls completely burnt after a fire ravaged stalls in a major outbreak at the Kasoa New Market on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a distress call was received around 4:50 p.m., after which the Kasoa Fire Station swiftly reached the scene, only to meet the fire at a very advanced stage.

The fire was spreading so rapidly that fire tenders had to immediately call for reinforcement from Weija, Anyaa, Dansoman, Industrial Area, Flagstaff House, Madina, and Swedru fire stations.

After about two hours of firefighting, the tenders managed to extinguish the flames at 6:52 p.m., brought the fire under control at 7:52 p.m., and fully extinguished it by 10:00 p.m.

Although several metallic shops and wooden stalls were destroyed—along with food items such as maize, beans, shea butter, spices, and other merchandise—the swift response by firefighters prevented the blaze from consuming the entire market.

Fire control officers explained that, despite the losses incurred, several stalls were salvaged. Among the challenges listed by the GNFS during the operation were poor accessibility within the market, long distances to reliable water sources, and interference from members of the public at various points during the operation. This fire marks the second major outbreak at the market in the last two years.

A fire incident at Abuakwa Manhyia in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region has claimed the lives of a three-month-old baby and six others. The fire outbreak, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Monday, December 22, swept through an apartment.

This information was disclosed by the Assembly Member for Abuakwa Manhyia, Evans Opoku. Meanwhile, the cause of the incident is yet to be established. Ghana has recorded several fire incidents from January to November this year.

Recently, a fire outbreak at Tsito–Awudome Gborkorpe in the Volta Region destroyed a two-bedroom self-contained apartment.

No casualties were reported from the incident, which occurred on Monday, December 8. Several students at Kedjebi-Asato Senior High School (SHS) in the Oti Region were left unconscious after a fire gutted one of the boys’ dormitories on Tuesday morning, December 2.

The students passed out from exhaustion as a result of smoke inhalation during the fire. Unfortunately, all their belongings were destroyed. Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) successfully brought the blaze under control.

Last month, a four-bedroom apartment at Aboabo Number 2 in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region was razed by fire on Wednesday, November 27. A young man in the community who attempted to help extinguish the fire was electrocuted in the process.

The alleged attack has intensified scrutiny on the safety of journalists in the line of duty and the conduct of security personnel, prompting a formal police investigation into the events at the Kasoa fire station.

Reports of his assault surfaced when a video capturing the incident was shared on social media yesterday, Monday, January 5.

In reaction to the video, GNFS, in a statement, confirmed that the purported assault on the journalist, highlighting that the incident “is under police investigation, and GNFS will fully cooperate to establish the facts.”

While it confirmed the assault on the journalist, it described the video as capturing its personnel engaged in an altercation with a suspected thief who had earlier attacked some firefighters at the scene. Consequently, a committee has been formed to probe the events surrounding the altercation.

It stated that, “The video appears to capture an altercation between firefighters and a suspected thief, who had earlier attacked firefighters along with accomplices at the fire scene. GNFS management has constituted a committee to investigate the incident thoroughly and establish all relevant facts,” urging the public to remain calm and exercise restraint while investigations continue.

The firefighting and rescue service, however, expressed its intolerance for assault on civilians by its personnel, no matter the provocation, stressing its professionalism and dedication to serving the country.

“While GNFS condemns attacks on its personnel, it equally frowns upon any form of physical or verbal assault on civilians by its staff, regardless of provocation. The Service urges the public to remain calm and exercise restraint while the investigation continues.

GNFS remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency in its operations and will continue to cooperate with the media and relevant authorities to ensure accurate public information,” parts of the statement read with a pledge to update the general public on the outcome of investigations into the case.