GHOne TV journalist Agyekum Banahene says he fears for his personal safety after being assaulted by a police officer while covering the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday, July 11, 2025.
The incident took place at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2, where Banahene was slapped in the face by a police officer while attempting to access the inner perimeter of the voting center to file his report.
Speaking to Citi News’ Fauzu Masawudu, Banahene shared his distress over the unprovoked assault and the wider implications it poses for journalism in Ghana.
“I feel threatened because we were complaining about media freedom, and now what has happened is that an officer, not a layman, has slapped a journalist,” he said. “That means he has taken an interest in whatever we are doing… My eyes are currently shaking. I don’t know what will happen to me.”
According to Banahene, the officer singled him out despite the presence of several other journalists at the scene.
“He just came to approach me that I should leave the premises. Meanwhile, there were other media guys at the premises, he didn’t ask anybody to leave but he just approached me to leave,” he recounted.
“I said no, I can’t go, what if I go and something happens, how do I report? He was pushing me and he slapped me in the face for no reason. I have not done anything wrong to anybody.”
Visibly shaken and angry, Banahene condemned the officer’s actions as a blatant attack on press freedom and a violation of the rights journalists are entitled to under the law.
“For me, I say the man has taken an interest. We need to allow laymen to do this, not an officer who knows the law. They say press freedom, where is that press freedom?” he asked.
Banahene revealed his plans to lodge a formal complaint with the Accra Regional Police Command in the coming days.
“So for me, I have taken note that Monday morning I am going to make an official complaint to the Commander at Accra. But the Accra Mayor has spoken to me about the issue, so he has asked me to go and make an official complaint,” he stated.
The assault has sparked widespread outrage among media practitioners and press freedom advocates, who are calling for a swift and impartial investigation into the incident.
As condemnation grows, this latest episode has reignited urgent conversations about the protection of journalists in Ghana, especially during politically sensitive events such as elections.
