TAEF calls on Ghanaian authorities to end military and police attacks on journalists

The African Editors Forum (TAEF) is calling on the Ghanaian authorities to take decisive action against persistent attacks on journalists by members of the country’s security services.

In a press statement signed by its President, Churchill Otieno, TAEF recounts that over the years, military and police officers have been on record for having assaulted journalists in public while they do their work.

“The fact that the unacceptable conduct has continued proves that these officers act with impunity because there are no repercussions for such dastardly acts,” TAEF said.

Citing recent attacks on journalists by uniformed officers, TAEF said the situation is concerning.

TAEF mentioned the incident on July 11, 2025, during parliamentary by-elections in Ablekuma North, when a police officer assaulted GHOne TV reporter Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, an incident captured on camera. The Ghana Police Service is investigating the officer. TAEF also cited the incident on July 30, during a building demolition at Spintex in Accra where JoyNews reporter Carlos Carlony, his cameraman, and an eyewitness were allegedly assaulted and detained by armed military officers while covering the event.

“Such incidents, where security personnel violently assault journalists in the course of their professional duties, significantly tarnish Ghana’s democratic reputation and its commitment to press freedom. It is therefore reassuring to hear the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, publicly condemn these acts.

TAEF commends the President for his public condemnation of the physical attacks on the journalists. We ask that President Mahama further substantively reinforce his words by directing security agencies to stringently bring to justice those who have abused their powers by threatening and assaulting journalists,” the statement said.

TAEF reiterated that it has consistently called upon security services personnel across Africa to protect journalists and ensure that they have safe spaces to do their work.

“We further call on President Mahama to demand thorough and transparent investigations into the incidents and ensure that the decisions arrived at after the investigations are actionable, sending a strong signal to members of the security services that attacks on journalists simply doing their work will not be tolerated,” the statement added.

By Peter Mensah

The post TAEF calls on Ghanaian authorities to end military and police attacks on journalists appeared first on Ghana Business News.

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