The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, has strongly condemned the physical assault of a journalist during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun and is urging the Ghana Police Service to take decisive legal action against the officer involved.
The incident occurred on Friday, July 11, 2025, when Agyekum Banahene, a reporter with GHOne TV, was slapped by a uniformed police officer at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2. Banahene was covering election proceedings and attempting to access the inner perimeter of the polling center when the assault took place—an act witnessed by both the public and cameras.
Following the attack, Banahene reported feeling unsafe and emotionally distressed, describing the experience as deeply traumatic.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Dwumfuor called the assault a “serious violation of press freedom and human rights,” and demanded a full criminal investigation.
“We expect an immediate, transparent, and thorough investigation. This is not just misconduct—it’s assault, a second-degree felony,” Dwumfuor stated. “We call on the IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to ensure that disciplinary action is taken swiftly and visibly. This time, the police must be bold enough to punish one of their own in full public view, just as the assault was witnessed.”
He emphasized that the matter should not be dismissed or downplayed. “This is not a misdemeanor. We know what the police are capable of—and we expect accountability.”
In response, the Ghana Police Service has interdicted the officer involved. According to a statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Richmond Mensah on behalf of the Director of Public Affairs, the officer was removed from duty after the Service reviewed widely shared video footage of the incident.
