Accra: The West Africa Editors Society (WAES) has condemned an attack on a journalist by officers of the Ghana National Fire Service and called for an investigation into the incident. The Society said a video circulating on social media showed the officers assaulting the journalist at the scene of a fire outbreak at the Kasoa New Market in the Central Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by Mr. Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, Interim President of WAES, identified the victim as Mr. Samuel Addo of Class Media Group. Mr. Addo reported that the fire started at the Kasoa New Market on Sunday, January 4, 2026, and he was at the scene throughout the night to cover the incident. He returned the following morning for a follow-up report for the morning show at his radio station. While there, he saw some fire officers assaulting a civilian and attempted to film the incident with his phone.
The statement mentioned that about 10 fire officers rushed on the journalist, seized his phone, and assaulted him, even though he had identified himself as a journalist. Mr. Addo stated that he had lodged a complaint with the police and had been issued a medical form for treatment.
WAES indicated that it had reached out to the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Mr. Desmond Ackah, via WhatsApp for comments but had not received a response. However, in a Starr FM report, Mr. Ackah was quoted as saying: 'Our men did not assault the journalist; they seized his phone because he was recording an altercation at the fire scene without permission.'
The Society said if the statement attributed to Mr. Ackah was accurate, then it was unfortunate because journalists do not need permission to film or record incidents in public. It expressed regret that attacks on journalists in Ghana by some security officers continued despite efforts to sensitise them about the role of journalists and their responsibility to protect them while they worked.
WAES said such attacks were a blot on the country's free press environment and urged the Ghana Police Service and the National Fire Service to investigate the matter. 'No democratic society should condone attacks on journalists because doing so stifles journalism, kills transparency, and keeps everyone in the dark - and democracy eventually dies in darkness,' the statement said. It added: 'Members of the security services in Ghana ought to know by now that journalism is important for any progressive society, including Ghana, and stop attacking journalists who are only doing their jobs.'
The Society said reports of security officers targeting journalists performing their constitutional duties do not reflect well on the image of the services and must stop.