The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has criticised the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), describing the conduct of its personnel as “rogue” following the violent assault of a journalist at the Kasoa New Market.
“Initially, we were told that he (the GNFS PRO) said, well, what happened was not an assault but an attempt to seize the phone of the journalist, because the journalist was recording an incident without permission, and quite clearly, that even made matters worse for me,” Mr Braimah noted, reacting to the GNFS’s initial defence.
Rogues and ‘Yo-Yo’ Men
Mr Braimah, a veteran advocate for press freedom, expressed deep disappointment in the institution’s response.
He argued that the attempt by the GNFS Public Relations Officer (PRO), DOII Desmond Ackah, to justify the seizure of a phone in a public space undermines the service’s professional standing.
“I told myself, well, perhaps I was wrong in my long-held assumption that the Ghana National Fire Service is a professional institution, because I don’t think any professional institution would have its personnel conduct themselves in the manner that we all saw in the video,” Mr Braimah stated in an interview on the Joy Super Morning Show (SMS) on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
He compared the officers’ behaviour to instant justice meted out by mobs:
“But what clearly happened, you look at it and you feel these are rogues. These are like some ‘yo-yo’ men. The same way we see people sometimes abuse supposed thieves and mete out instant justice to them, which we all condemn.”
The victim, Samuel Addo of Class Media Group (CMG), was reportedly beaten to a pulp on Monday, January 5, while documenting the aftermath of the devastating fire that had ravaged over 100 stores the previous day.
The assault has sparked a national outcry, with viral footage showing officers striking individuals with fists and fire helmets.
Samuel Addo had arrived at the scene to provide a follow-up report for his morning show.
According to his account, he witnessed approximately 10 fire officers allegedly assaulting civilians and began filming the confrontation.
Despite identifying himself as a member of the press, the officers reportedly turned their aggression toward him.
Addo claims he was held by the neck, his hands were pinned behind his back, and he was struck repeatedly.
In the ensuing chaos, his belt was torn, and he allegedly lost GH₵10,200 from a bag containing GH₵20,000.
A Credibility Crisis for the GNFS
The MFWA boss warned that without swift and transparent disciplinary action, the reputation of the fire service would be permanently scarred.
Mr Braimah concluded with a warning that “impunity begets impunity,” suggesting that if this incident is swept under the carpet, even worse violations against the media will follow in the future.
“I can only hope that the leadership of that institution would take the appropriate actions to redeem itself… so that at least we can continue to have some hope that the fire service that we have is a professional institution.”
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