The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned what it describes as a “brutal, unlawful and reprehensible” attack on Class FM journalist, Samuel Addo, carried out by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service during a fire outbreak at the Kasoa Market in the Central Region.
Read also: Journalist allegedly assaulted by firefighters during Kasoa market incident
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Sunday, 4th January, 2026, happened while Mr Addo was reporting on the fire incident.
According to GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour during a press conference on Tuesday, “This attack is not only an assault on an individual journalist, but a direct attack on media freedom, the public’s right to information, and Ghana’s democratic order,” the GJA president said.
He described the conduct of the officers as “deplorable, disgraceful and indefensible”, stressing that no emergency or security institution has the authority to intimidate, assault, or obstruct journalists under the pretext of operational control.
“No emergency or security institution has the authority to intimidate, assault or obstruct journalists under the guise of operational control. Such conduct reflects a dangerous culture of impunity that must be confronted decisively,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour also criticised the response of the Ghana National Fire Service, describing as unacceptable a defence issued by its Public Relations Officer, DO II Desmond Ackah. The Association rejected claims that officers merely seized Mr Addo’s phone because he was recording an altercation without permission.
“The claim that the officers did not assault the journalist but merely seized his phone because he was recording an altercation without permission is untenable, misleading and offensive to basic intelligence.”
He stressed that officers of the Ghana National Fire Service have no authority to confiscate a journalist’s equipment, obstruct media coverage, or demand permission for lawful journalistic work at a public emergency scene.
“No officer of the Ghana National Fire Service has the authority to confiscate a journalist’s equipment, obstruct coverage, or demand permission for lawful journalistic work at a public emergency scene.”
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