Ghana has a troubling history of attacks on journalists. Over the years, journalists have been attacked in their line of duty, some by civilians and in other cases by some security officials who are mandated to protect them.

A very recent case of assault on a journalist is that of some Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) officers attacking a class media journalist during his follow-up coverage of a fire incident at the Kaso New Market last Sunday, sparking widespread concerns.

President John Mahama speaking in reaction to it during a visit to the state media house, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, yesterday, Thursday 8, January, stated that “Violence against journalists has no place in a democratic society.”

President John Mahama has revealed that personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service who assaulted a journalist with Class FM have been identified and interdicted.

He made this revelation during his visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) as part of his tour to selected media houses.

The President condemned the attack, highlighting that there is zero tolerance for violence against journalists in a democratic society.

“I’m a journalist by training, and so there’s no way we can countenance the continued assault on journalists. The Minister of Government Communications has taken it up, and I think the officers have been identified and interdicted as investigations are going on, “President Mahama said.

To avert future occurrences, President Mahama revealed that his administration has begun engagements with the Ghana Journalists Association and security agencies to address the matter and prevent future incidents, citing the need for the reorientation of some security personnel to respect the work of journalists while they are in the field carrying out their duties.

President Mahama said there is a need for a change in attitude among some security personnel, noting that journalists and security officers play complementary roles in society.

“We’ve been in touch with the Ghana Journalists Association on these issues. We’ve put them in touch with the security services. We need a reorientation of many of our security personnel to understand that just as they are doing their job of providing peace and safety, journalists are also doing their job of informing the people as to what is happening. They’re not antagonistic to each other. Indeed, they’re both serving the same public,” he explained.

While acknowledging the occasional occurrence of such incidents, he insisted they must be handled decisively. “When they come, they must be dealt with as firmly as possible,” he said.

About the assaulted journalist and the circumstances leading to his attack

Meanwhile, the class media journalist, Samuel Addo, 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 before 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.

History of attacks on journalists

The cases of assaults, particularly during the by-elections in 2024, affected our ranking in press freedom on the global level, as confirmed by President Mahama.

Some months ago, about three journalists were assaulted during the coverage of the Ablekuma North by-election held on July 11.

During the election, a police officer deployed to one of the polling stations, Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor 4 polling station, slapped and pushed a GHOne TV journalist, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene. According to the journalist, the police officer singled him out during his coverage of the by-election. When he refused to leave, explaining that he was doing his duty to report the electoral process, the officer still went ahead to assault him without justification, even after presenting him with an ID card. He sustained mouth injuries and was treated at Cocoa Clinic.

Another disturbing attack was that on ATV-Ghana’s journalists, Vida Wiafe, who was hit with pepper spray by police officers at St. Peter’s Society Polling Station while interviewing voters. She lost consciousness and required medical attention.

Sally Martey, a JoyNews reporter, was assaulted on live TV by a masked thug who slapped her from behind and shoved her to the side while reporting at the same polling station. The incident was captured on video and widely condemned.

Also, about two journalists who have faced repeated assaults in their line of duty are JoyNews’ Latif Iddrisu and galamsey reporter Erastus Donkor.

Latif’s case is currently still being dragged in court. On March 27, 2018, he was brutally beaten by police officers at the CID Headquarters in Accra, which nearly cost him his life.

According to reports, this near-fatal assault occurred while he was covering a protest. During an engagement with some of the protesters, officers turned on him, striking him repeatedly. He suffered head injuries, including a fractured skull, with the trauma leading to long-term neurological complications.

Latif underwent extensive medical treatment and therapy, including care in California, USA. Despite attempts to return to frontline reporting, he continues to struggle with pain and trauma.

The officers involved have not been publicly prosecuted to date. In a separate incident this year, March 27, Latif was covering a protest at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra related to the arrest of NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) when he was physically assaulted by NPP supporters, threatened, and later received death threats via text message warning him to withdraw his police complaint. Latif was forced into hiding due to threats against him and his family. He requested police protection, but no tangible response was provided.

However, one suspect, Theophilus Thompson, has since been arrested. On June 7, Theophilus was apprehended and is currently in police custody. On the other hand, investigations are ongoing to identify other perpetrators.