President John Mahama has announced that personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service who allegedly assaulted a journalist with Class FM have been identified and interdicted as investigations continue.
The President made the disclosure during a visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, where he addressed concerns about the safety of journalists and the conduct of security personnel during public operations.
Condemning the incident, President Mahama said attacks on journalists undermine democratic principles and cannot be justified. He noted that his own background as a journalist informed his strong stance on the matter, adding that the work of journalists is essential to public accountability.
He said government officials have been engaging with the Ghana Journalists Association and relevant security agencies to address the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future. According to the President, these engagements are aimed at improving coordination and mutual understanding between journalists and security services.
President Mahama stressed that journalists and security personnel perform complementary roles in society. He said while security agencies are responsible for maintaining peace and safety, journalists have a duty to inform the public about events affecting their lives. He added that neither role should be viewed as antagonistic to the other.
Acknowledging that confrontations can sometimes occur in high-pressure situations, the President said such incidents must be dealt with decisively. He stated that firm action is necessary to reinforce discipline within the security services and protect press freedom.
He further disclosed that the Minister of Government Communications is overseeing the matter and confirmed that disciplinary steps have already been taken. According to him, the interdiction of the officers involved is part of ongoing investigations into the assault.
The incident under investigation relates to the alleged assault of a Class FM journalist while on assignment. Police and institutional inquiries are still ongoing, and no findings have yet been publicly released. The officers involved remain presumed innocent until the investigations are concluded and any disciplinary or legal processes are completed.