My eyes are shaking’ – GHOne Journalist breaks down after Police assault

GHOne TV journalist Agyekum Banahene says he now fears for his life after being assaulted by a police officer during the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun on Friday, July 11, 2025.

The incident happened at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2, where Banahene was slapped by a police officer while trying to gain access to the inner perimeter of the voting area to report on the ongoing election.

Speaking in an interview with Citi News’ Fauzu Masawudu, Banahene expressed deep concern about his safety, especially in a country where media freedom is often spoken about but not always protected.

“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.”

Recounting the incident, Banahene explained 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. He just approached me,” he said.

Banahene said he refused to leave, explaining the importance of his presence as a journalist covering the event.

“I said no, I can’t go. What if I go and something happens? How do I report? He was pushing me and then slapped me in the face for no reason. I have not done anything wrong to anybody.”

The journalist described the assault as a direct attack on press freedom and questioned the professionalism of the police officer involved.

“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?”

Banahene disclosed that he plans to take formal action by filing a complaint with the Accra Regional Police Command.

“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.”

As of now, the Ghana Police Service has not publicly commented on the matter.