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“This is a criminal matter that must be tested in the law court,” – President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has said in reaction to the alleged assault of a Class Media journalist by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Dwumfour condemned what he described as a brutal and unlawful attack on Class FM journalist Samuel Addo, who was assaulted while covering a fire outbreak on Monday, January 5, 2026. A video widely circulated on social media shows the journalist being manhandled, shouted at, and allegedly hit with a hard hat by some fire service officers as he filmed the scene.
Mr. Dwumfour stressed that no emergency or security institution has the authority to intimidate or assault journalists carrying out lawful duties at a public emergency scene. He described the incident as a direct attack on media freedom and the public’s right to information.
The GJA President dismissed explanations by the GNFS that their officers only seized the journalist’s phone, describing the claim as misleading and an attempt to downplay a serious criminal act.
The Association is demanding the immediate arrest, investigation, and prosecution of all officers involved and has called on the Inspector General of Police to act swiftly. He confirmed that the journalist has formally reported the matter to the police.
Mr. Dwumfour also called on the leadership of the Ghana National Fire Service to publicly condemn the assault, identify the officers involved, and apply severe internal sanctions, including dismissal where necessary.