{"id":71998,"date":"2025-07-11T18:03:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=71998"},"modified":"2025-07-11T18:03:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:03:18","slug":"gja-demands-transparent-probe-over-police-officers-assault-on-journalist-at-ablekuma-north-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=71998","title":{"rendered":"GJA demands transparent probe over police officer\u2019s assault on journalist at Ablekuma North"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 47 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><div>\n<p>The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the assault of a journalist during the coverage of the Ablekuma North rerun.<\/p>\n<p>The association is calling for a swift, thorough, and transparent criminal investigation into the incident.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour expressed deep outrage over the attack, which has triggered national concern following the emergence of viral video footage showing a police officer physically assaulting a journalist.<\/p>\n<p>The reporter, identified as Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, was allegedly confronted and assaulted by a uniformed police officer who demanded he vacate the polling station\u2014despite other journalists being allowed to remain on-site.<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s-CHNEkSFX0?si=y5QdaCaNB0Q__2NN\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cHe just came to me and said I should leave the premises,\u201d Banahene recounted. \u201cMeanwhile, there were other media people around, but he didn\u2019t ask anyone else to leave. He targeted me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>When Mr. Banahene refused\u2014explaining that he was simply carrying out his constitutional duty to report on the electoral process\u2014the officer allegedly escalated the confrontation.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI told him I couldn\u2019t leave. I said, \u2018What if something happens? How do I report it if I\u2019m not here?\u2019 Then he began pushing me and eventually slapped me in the face for no reason. I had done nothing wrong,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In response, the Ghana Police Service announced the interdiction of the officer involved, pending further inquiry. While the GJA welcomed this move, it stressed that internal disciplinary action alone is insufficient.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe have seen the statement by the Police Administration which announced the interdiction of the officer involved in the attack. The GJA commends the police for this step, but we demand an immediate, thorough, and transparent criminal investigation into this matter,\u201d Mr. Dwumfour stated.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He continued: \u201cThis incident is particularly troubling because it involves a member of the Ghana Police Service\u2014an institution entrusted with upholding law and order and protecting all citizens, including journalists. We call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohonu, to act swiftly and decisively. Disciplinary action must be taken to serve as a deterrent to others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The GJA president further described the assault as premeditated, arguing that the officer\u2019s selective targeting of Mr. Banahene indicates intent to obstruct his journalistic duties.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe believe this attack was deliberate. When a police officer singles out one journalist while ignoring others, it suggests a calculated attempt to interfere with his constitutional responsibility. That is a serious offense and cannot be overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Mr. Dwumfour also expressed concern over historical patterns of leniency in similar cases:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe know what the police can do\u2014sometimes weak charges are brought just so the perpetrator gets a light sentence. This time, we are watching closely. We will follow this case with all seriousness.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIt cannot be treated lightly. It cannot be classified as a minor offense. The law must take its full course.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The GJA has urged the Ghana Police Service to demonstrate boldness, transparency, and integrity in handling the matter, calling for the full prosecution of the officer involved.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe are demanding more than administrative penalties. We expect criminal accountability. The law must not shield anyone who assaults a journalist in the line of duty.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Association reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom and protecting journalists across the country, warning that any attack on the media is an attack on democracy itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n        <div class=\"booster-block booster-reactions-block\">\n            <div class=\"twp-reactions-icons\">\n                \n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-1\" post-id=\"71998\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/happy.svg\" alt=\"Happy\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Happy                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                   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src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/surprise.svg\" alt=\"Surprise\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">Surprise<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                                                                        <span class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n    ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-959-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"GJA demands transparent probe over police officer's assault on journalist at Ablekuma North\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"GJA demands transparent probe over police officer's assault on journalist at Ablekuma North\">The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the assault of a journalist during the coverage of the Ablekuma North rerun. The association is calling for a swift, thorough, and transparent criminal investigation into the incident. Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour expressed deep outrage over the attack, which [\u2026]<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=71998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71998\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=71998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=71998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=71998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}