The purported assault on Class FM reporter Samuel Addo by members of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) during a fire outbreak at the Kasoa Market in the Central Region on Sunday, January 4, 2026, has been roundly denounced by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
The assault was “brutal, unlawful, and reprehensible,” according to GJA President Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, who spoke at a news conference on Tuesday and emphasized that Mr. Addo was legitimately carrying out his professional responsibilities by covering an issue of great public concern.
“The viral video in which the reporter and a few citizens were brutally assaulted with helmets was witnessed by all of us,” Mr. Dwumfour stated. “This attack is a direct assault on media freedom, the public’s right to information, and Ghana’s democratic order, not just on one particular journalist. ”
The GJA, urging the Ghana Police Service and other relevant authorities to act decisively to ensure accountability, is demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the assault.
According to Mr. Dwumfour, “The safety and freedom of journalists are non-negotiable. ” “We will vigorously pursue justice to see that such acts of violence against media practitioners are neither ignored nor repeated. ”
The Ghana National Fire Service’s response was criticized by the Association, who claimed that the officers only confiscated the journalist’s phone because he was recording an argument without permission and did not attack him. The Association’s Public Relations Officer, DO II Desmond Ackah, made the claim.
This justification was described by Mr. Dwumfour as “untenable, misleading, and offensive,” and he said that no member of the GNFS has the right to stop a reporter, seize their equipment, or seek permission for legal coverage during a public emergency.
“This response ignores the severe charges of assault and displays a troubling disregard for the rule of law and press freedom,” he stated.
