GHOne TV journalist reporting at the North Odorkor Polling 2 Station in the ongoing election rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency has been assaulted by a police officer.
The journalist, according to reports, was assaulted by the officer when he attempted to enter the inner perimeter of the voting centre for coverage.
According to the victim who gave his name as Banahene, the officer asked him to leave the inner perimeter despite other journalists being present at the same location to cover proceedings.
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 narrated.
He explained that he insisted his presence at the location was legal since he needed to be there to cover proceedings.
But, the officer, who was displeased with the resistance, assaulted him for no reason.
“I said no I can’t go — what if I go and something happens? How do I report?” he said. “He was pushing me and he slapped me in the face for no reason. I have not done anything wrong to anybody.”
Banahene believes his press freedom has been violated, describing the officer’s conduct as an act of unprofessionalism.
“We need to allow laymen to do this, not an officer who knows the law. They say press freedom — where is that press freedom?”
The journalist further indicated that he intends making an official complaint to the Accra Regional Police Command on Monday, July 14, 2025. He said the Accra Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has already told him to take the matter up officially, after talking to him at the scene.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service is yet to comment on the matter.
Onuaonline.com and 3 news
