President John Dramani Mahama has, in the strongest terms, condemned the recent assaults on journalists by security personnel, describing the incident as "unacceptable".

He has subsequently ordered immediate investigations into the matter, especially the alleged assault on JoyNews reporter, Carlos Calony, by soldiers who supervised a demolition exercise.

He has specifically ordered the Minister for Defence and the National Security Coordinator to commence immediate investigations into the incident, which has since gone viral on social and mainstream media.

President Mahama gave the order at a ceremony to swear in the last four deputy ministers who have been approved by parliament.

He said, "Allow me to condemn in the strongest terms the recent incident involving the manhandling of some journalists by our security personnel. Such conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated".

"As a card-bearing member of the Ghana Journalists Association, I will not preside over a government that abuses or intimidates journalists in the lawful exercise of their duty". He continued.

According to President Mahama, "A free and responsible press is indispensable to our democracy and we must all work to protect the media."

He promised to convene a meeting between the heads of the security services and the leadership of the GJA soon to plan a programme to orient security personnel to recognise the "media not as enemies but as partners in development."

The order and the assurance of the president come on the heels of a recent rise in multiple incidents of assault on journalists by state security operatives.

During the parliamentary election re-run at the Ablekuma North constituency, a journalist with GHOne, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, was heavily assaulted by a senior police officer.

The latest assault occurred when a journalist with JoyNews was allegedly maltreated by soldiers in uniform who were providing security for the demolition of a warehouse on the Spintex Road next to Action Chapel.

The facility is said to belong to the Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley.

NAAB/SEA

Meanwhile, watch as Prophet Worlasi shares bombshell prophesies on Bawumia and NPP on The Lowdown: