Ghana: Police officer, thugs assault three journalists covering parliamentary election re-run

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) strongly condemns physical attacks against journalists reporting on the parliamentary election re-run taking place at Ablekuma North, a constituency in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana today, July 11, 2025. Three journalists, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene of the EIB Network; Salomey Martey of the Multimedia Group; and Vida Wiafe of Amansan TV (ATV) were assaulted while they were reporting from polling stations in the constituency. In the first incident, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, was slapped by a police officer while at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor 4 Polling Station in the Tswuim Electoral Area. The attack, captured in a viral video, shows the officer manhandling the journalist who was visibly identifiable as a member of the press. Banahene confirmed the incident to the MFWA in a telephone interview after lodging a complaint and obtaining a medical report at the Odorkor Police Station. He was admitted at the Cocoa Clinic at Kaneshie in Accra for treatment. He told the MFWA that he was traumatised and was feeling severe pains in his, “right eye and bruises on my face.” We commend the Ghana Police Service, who in a statement has announced that the officer concerned has been recalled and will be facing internal disciplinary procedures.