Police Officer Assaults GHOne TV Journalist During Ablekuma North Rerun

A police officer stationed at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling 2 Station, allegedly assaulted GHOne TV journalist Agyekum Banahene during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday, July 11, 2025.

The incident reportedly occurred when the journalist attempted to access the inner perimeter of the polling station to carry out his media duties. According to Citi News’ reporter Fauzu Masawudu, the officer confronted Banahene despite the presence of other media personnel at the same location.

Speaking after the assault, Banahene recounted that the officer singled him out without justification. “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 said.

The journalist said he declined the officer’s request, insisting that he had a responsibility to remain on the scene to accurately report on events. “I said no I can’t go — what if I go and something happens? How do I report?”

Banahene claimed the officer physically pushed him and then slapped him across the face. “He was pushing me and he slapped me in the face for no reason. I have not done anything wrong to anybody,” he said.

He described the officer’s behavior as unprofessional and a direct attack on media freedom. “We need to allow laymen to do this, not an officer who knows the law. They say press freedom where is that press freedom?”

Banahene stated that he intends to file an official complaint with the Accra Regional Police Command on Monday. He added that the Mayor of Accra had already reached out to him and encouraged him to pursue the matter formally.

As of now, the Ghana Police Service has not issued a public response to the incident.