President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) officers involved in the assault of Class FM journalist Samuel Addo have been identified and interdicted, as investigations continue.
During a visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), President Mahama strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that assaults on journalists are incompatible with democratic values.
“I’m a journalist by training, and so there’s no way we can countenance the continued assault on journalists,” he said.
The President noted that government is working closely with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and relevant security agencies to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents. “We’ve been in touch with the Ghana Journalists Association on these issues. We’ve put them in touch with the security services,” he added.
President Mahama further stressed the need for reorientation among security personnel, highlighting that both journalists and security officers serve the public interest. “Just as they are doing their job of providing peace and safety, journalists are doing their job of informing the people. They’re not antagonistic to each other; both serve the public,” he said.
Acknowledging that such incidents may occasionally occur, he insisted they must be addressed firmly. “When they happen, they must be dealt with as firmly as possible,” he noted.
He concluded by affirming that disciplinary processes are ongoing: “The officers have been identified. They’ve been interdicted, and an investigation is ongoing. But we won’t countenance assault on journalists,” President Mahama stated.
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