4 times Ghana police assaulted journalists

Police brutalities have been rampant in recent years following numerous reported cases across the country.

While many citizens have fallen victim to such ill treatments, it is worrying to note that even journalists are not spared.

The media is the fourth estate of the realm but, at this rate, it appears journalists are no longer safe in their line of work.

There have been many cases of police officers assaulting journalists in the past, with the latest happening on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

Below, we take a look at some occasions where journalists were assaulted by police officers:

1. Police assault three Ghanaian Times journalists

On Thursday, March 14, 2019 some police officers brutally assaulted three journalists of the Ghanaian Times newspaper.

The journalists were reportedly assaulted by 10 policemen while on their way for an assignment.

The assaulted journalists were identified as Malik Sullemana, a court reporter, Raissa Sambou, a general reporter and Salifu Abdul Rahman, an assistant editor.

Reports suggest one of the police officers who was using an unregistered motorcycle hit the car transporting the Ghanaian Times journalists.

The said officer is reported to have ignored the accident and went further to skip traffic.

The journalists then tried to record the ensuing exchanges, but their action irked the police officers who pounced on them and physically assaulted them.

2. Joy FM journalists assaulted at CID headquarters

In March 2018, another journalist from Joy FM, Latif Iddris, was brutally assaulted by some police officers.

The reporter had gone to the CID Headquarters to cover the detention of then Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho.

However, he ended up receiving slaps from a one police officer when he asked about the anti-riot vehicles that had been deployed to control the crowd.

The policeman maintained that he slapped the journalist for “asking a stupid question.”

3. Police assaults Skyy Power FM journalist

In August 2018, Nana Adu Kyei Danso Abiam, who is a journalist at Skyy Power FM in the Western Region, was also assaulted by a police constable.

The said journalist is reported to have asked the police officer why he rode a motorcycle without a helmet.

For asking such a question, the officer, identified as Constable Wilson Bossey, dragged him out of his car and physically assaulted him.

The journalist was later handed to a police patrol team to be sent to the Sekondi police station.

4. Reporter assaulted by police at BHIM Concert

During Stonebwoy’s BHIM Concert held in December 2018, a reporter was brutalised by some police officers at the event.

Samuel Kumah, known in showbiz circles as Sammy Kay, was assaulted for filming footballer, Asamoah Gyan and television personality, Efia Odo.

He was later rushed to the emergency ward at the 37 Military Hospital after sustaining a serious injury.